^1:16These people are grumblers and⁷⁶ fault-finders who go⁷⁷ wherever their desires lead them,⁷⁸ and they give bombastic speeches,⁷⁹ enchanting folks⁸⁰ for their own gain.⁸¹

Exhortation to the Faithful

^1:17But you, dear friends—recall the predictions⁸² foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.⁸³^1:18For they said to you, “In the end time there will come⁸⁴ scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.”⁸⁵^1:19These people are divisive,⁸⁶ worldly,⁸⁷ devoid of the Spirit.⁸⁸

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Footnotes

76 “And” is not in Greek, but is supplied for the sake of English style.
77 Or “going.” Though the participle is anarthrous, so also is the subject. Thus, the participle could be either adverbial or adjectival.
78 Grk “(who go/going) according to their own lusts.”
79 Grk “and their mouth speaks bombastic things.” They give bombastic speeches. The idiom of opening one’s mouth in the NT often implied a public oration from a teacher or one in authority. Cf. Matt 5:2; Luke 4:22; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 10:34; Eph 6:19; Rev 13:5–6.
80 Enchanting folks (Grk “awing faces”) refers to the fact that the speeches of these false teachers are powerful and seductive.
81 Or “to their own advantage.”
82 Grk “words.” In conjunction with προεῖπον (proeipon), however, the meaning of the construction is that the apostles uttered prophecies.
83 This verse parallels 2 Pet 3:2 both conceptually and in much of the verbiage. There is one important difference, however: In 2 Pet 3:2 the prophets and apostles speak; here, just the apostles speak. This makes good sense if Jude is using 2 Peter as his main source and is urging his readers to go back to the authoritative writings, both OT and now especially NT.
84 Grk “be.”
85 Grk “going according to their own desires of ungodliness.” Jude cites 2 Pet 3:3, changing a few of the words among other things, cleaning up the syntax, conforming it to Hellenistic style.
86 Grk “these are the ones who cause divisions.”
87 Or “natural,” that is, living on the level of instincts, not on a spiritual level (the same word occurs in 1 Cor 2:14 as a description of nonbelievers).
88 Grk “not having [the] Spirit.” The phrase devoid of the Spirit may well indicate Jude’s and Peter’s assessment of the spiritual status of the false teachers. Those who do not have the Spirit are clearly not saved.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.

But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit.

NLTNew Living Translation

These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

These people are grumblers, discontented, proceeding according to their desires, and their mouths speaking pompous words, showing partiality to gain an advantage.

But you, dear friends, remember the words proclaimed beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they said to you, “In the end time there will be scoffers following according to their own ungodly desires.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly, not having the Spirit.

KJV 1900King James Version

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

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