< 1 Corinthians 13 >

1 Supposing we could speak [all] the various languages [MTY] that people [in the world speak] and even speak [the language] that angels [speak]. If we did not love [others, speaking those languages] would be [as useless as beating] a brass gong or clanging cymbals [together].
Al ware het, dat ik de talen der mensen en der engelen sprak, en de liefde niet had, zo ware ik een klinkend metaal, of luidende schel geworden.
2 Supposing we had the ability to speak messages that come directly from God, and we could understand the plans that he has not yet revealed [to others], and we could know everything [about everything], and we believed in God so strongly that we could [do impossible things like] causing mountains to move. If we did not love [others, God would consider all that] to be worthless.
En al ware het dat ik de gave der profetie had, en wist al de verborgenheden en al de wetenschap; en al ware het, dat ik al het geloof had, zodat ik bergen verzette, en de liefde niet had, zo ware ik niets.
3 And supposing we would give everything that we own to poor people, and would let others kill us in order that we could boast about [sacrificing our] own bodies. If we did not love [others], we would not get any reward [from God].
En al ware het, dat ik al mijn goederen tot onderhoud der armen uitdeelde, en al ware het, dat ik mijn lichaam overgaf, opdat ik verbrand zou worden, en had de liefde niet, zo zou het mij geen nuttigheid geven.
4 Those who [PRS] truly love [others] act patiently and kindly toward them. Those who [PRS] truly love [others] are not jealous of them, they do not boast [about what they themselves have done], and are not proud.
De liefde is lankmoedig, zij is goedertieren; de liefde is niet afgunstig; de liefde handelt niet lichtvaardiglijk, zij is niet opgeblazen;
5 Those who [PRS] truly love [others] do not act in disgraceful/disrespectful ways towards them. They do not (act selfishly/think only of themselves and what they want). They do not quickly become angry. They do not keep remembering the bad things [that others have done to them].
Zij handelt niet ongeschiktelijk, zij zoekt zichzelve niet, zij wordt niet verbitterd, zij denkt geen kwaad;
6 Those who [PRS] truly love [others] do not rejoice when [people do] evil things, but they do rejoice when [people act] righteously.
Zij verblijdt zich niet in de ongerechtigheid, maar zij verblijdt zich in de waarheid;
7 Those who truly love [others] patiently put up [the faults of others]. They do not quickly assume [that others have done something bad]. They confidently expect [that others will act righteously]. They patiently endure [all their own troubles].
Zij bedekt alle dingen, zij gelooft alle dingen, zij hoopt alle dingen, zij verdraagt alle dingen.
8 We should never [PRS] let anything stop us from continuing to love [others]. As for the ability to speak messages that come directly from God, some day that will come to an end. As for the ability to speak languages [MTY] [that we have not learned], that will [also] come to an end some day. And as for the ability to know things that God reveals to us, that will come to an end some day [because it will not be necessary any more].
De liefde vergaat nimmermeer; maar hetzij profetieen, zij zullen te niet gedaan worden; hetzij talen, zij zullen ophouden; hetzij kennis, zij zal te niet gedaan worden.
9 God does not reveal everything to us, and we cannot know everything that he knows.
Want wij kennen ten dele, en wij profeteren ten dele;
10 But when everything is perfect [after Christ returns], things which are not perfect [now], [such as the abilities which God’s Spirit gives us], will (disappear/come to an end).
Doch wanneer het volmaakte zal gekomen zijn, dan zal hetgeen ten dele is, te niet gedaan worden.
11 When we were children, we talked like children talk, we thought like children think, we reasoned like children reason. But when we grew up, we got rid of our childish ways [MET]. [Similarly], [you need to get rid of your childish thinking about the abilities that the Spirit has given you].
Toen ik een kind was, sprak ik als een kind, was ik gezind als een kind, overlegde ik als een kind; maar wanneer ik een man geworden ben, zo heb ik te niet gedaan hetgeen eens kinds was.
12 In this life we do not understand everything fully. It is like [MET] looking at something indirectly by seeing it in a mirror. But [when we get to heaven] [MTY], we will [understand everything clearly. It will be like] talking to someone face-to-face. Now we know only part [of everything that God wants us to know]. Then we will know everything completely, just like [God] knows us completely.
Want wij zien nu door een spiegel in een duistere rede, maar alsdan zullen wij zien aangezicht tot aangezicht; nu ken ik ten dele, maar alsdan zal ik kennen, gelijk ook ik gekend ben.
13 So now there are three things [that we must] continue [to do]: To trust [in God], to confidently expect [to receive what he will give us], and to love [others]. But the greatest of those three things is loving [others].
En nu blijft geloof, hoop en liefde, deze drie; doch de meeste van deze is de liefde.

< 1 Corinthians 13 >