1 Corinthians 13

1 THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

If I could speak in every tongue of men, and in that of angels, and there should be no love in me, I should be like brass that resoundeth, or the cymbal that maketh a noise.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And if there should be in me the gift of prophecy, and I should understand all the mysteries, and every science; and if there should be in me all faith, so that I could move mountains, and love should not be in me, I should be nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

And if I should feed out to the destitute all I possess; and if I should give my body to be burned; and there should be no love in me, I gain nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Love is long-suffering, and is kind; love is not envious; love is not boisterous; and is not inflated;

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

and doth nothing that causeth shame; and seeketh not her own; is not passionate; and thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all, and endureth all.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Love will never cease. But prophesyings will end; and tongues will be silent; and knowledge will vanish.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

For we know but partially; and we prophesy but partially.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

But when completeness shall come, then that which is partial will vanish away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

When I was a child, I talked as a child, and I reasoned as a child, and I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I laid aside the things of childhood.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now we see, as by a mirror, in similitude; but then face to face: now I know partially; but then shall I know, just as I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

For these three things are abiding, faith, and hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.