1 Corinthians 13

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

Though I speak in the “tongues” of people, or even of angels, yet have not love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal!

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 love, I am nothing.

Even though I have the gift of preaching, and fathom all hidden truths and all the depths of knowledge; even though I have such faith as might move mountains, yet have not love, I am 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 love, it profiteth me nothing.

Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body in order to boast, yet have not love, it avails me nothing!

4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Love is long-suffering, and kind; love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly;

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

love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs;

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

love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of truth;

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

love bears with all things, ever trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient.

8 Love 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 never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will end; whether it be the gift of “tongues,” it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will vanish.

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

For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete,

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

but, when the perfect has come, that which is incomplete will end.

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, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; now that I am a man, I have done with childish ways.

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.

As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then – face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I will know in full, as I have been fully known.

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

Meanwhile faith, hope, and love endure – these three, but the greatest of these is love.