1 Korinther 13
1 Könnte ich in Sprachen der Menschen und Engel reden, aber mir fehlte die Liebe, so wäre ich ein tönend Erz oder eine klingende Schelle.
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].
2 Hätte ich Weissagung und wüßte alle Geheimnisse und besäße alle Erkenntnis, ja wäre mein Glaube so stark, daß ich Berge versetzen könnte, aber mir fehlte die Liebe, so wäre ich nichts.
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.
3 Wenn ich alle meine Habe den Armen schenkte und gäbe meinen Leib dem Feuertod preis, aber mir fehlte die Liebe: Es nützte mir nichts.
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].
4 Die Liebe ist langmütig, die Liebe ist freundlich. Sie ist nicht neidisch, prahlt nicht, ist nicht aufgeblasen.
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.
5 Sie gibt nicht Anstoß, sucht nicht ihren Vorteil, läßt sich nicht zum Zorn reizen, trägt nicht Böses nach.
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].
6 Sie freut sich nicht über Unrecht, sie wünscht vielmehr der Wahrheit Glück.
Those who [PRS] truly love [others] do not rejoice when [people do] evil things, but they do rejoice when [people act] righteously.
7 Alles deckt sie, alles glaubt sie, alles hofft sie, alles trägt sie.
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].
8 Die Liebe hört niemals auf. Die Weissagungen werden schwinden, die Zungenreden werden schweigen, die Erkenntnis wird ein Ende nehmen.
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].
9 Denn Stückwerk ist unser Erkennen, Stückwerk unser Weissagen.
God does not reveal everything to us, and we cannot know everything that he knows.
10 Wenn aber das Vollkommene erscheint, dann hört das Stückwerk auf.
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).
11 Als ich ein Kind war, da sprach ich wie ein Kind, ich dachte wie ein Kind, ich urteilte wie ein Kind. Seit ich aber ein Mann bin, ist es vorbei mit dem kindischen Wesen.
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].
12 Jetzt sehen wir nur ein dunkles Spiegelbild, einst aber schauen wir von Angesicht zu Angesicht. Jetzt ist mein Erkennen nur Stückwerk, einst aber werde ich erkennen, wie ich erkannt worden bin.
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.
13 So bleiben Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe, diese drei. Am größten aber unter ihnen ist die Liebe.
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].
