1 Bakolinto 13

1 Soki nalobi nkota ya bato to ya ba-anjelu, kasi nazangi bolingo, nazali kaka lokola ngonga oyo ezali kobeta to lokola manzanza oyo ezali kotia makelele.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 Soki nazali na likabo ya kosakola, ya kososola mabombami nyonso mpe ya koyeba makambo nyonso; mpe soki nazali na kondima oyo ekoki kolongola bangomba, kasi nazangi bolingo, nazali pamba.

And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 Soki napesi biloko na ngai nyonso epai ya babola, mpe nakabi nzoto na ngai mpo ete batumba yango, kasi nazangi bolingo, nakozwa ata litomba moko te.

And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.

4 Bolingo ekangaka motema, bolingo etondi na boboto. Bolingo elulaka te, emikumisaka te, emitondisaka na lolendo te,

Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous [of others]; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up,

5 ebebisaka lokumu ya bato mosusu te, elukaka bolamu na yango moko te, esilikaka te, ebosanaka mabe.

does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek what is its own, is not quickly provoked, does not impute evil,

6 Bolingo eyokaka mawa liboso ya bozangi bosembo, kasi esepelaka na bosolo.

does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth,

7 Tango nyonso mpe na makambo nyonso, bolingo elimbisaka, endimaka, ezalaka na elikya, eyikaka mpiko.

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Bolingo ekotikala kokufa te. Kasi masakoli ekokatana, nkota ekosila, boyebi ekolimwa.

Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away.

9 Pamba te toyebaka kaka moke, mpe tosakolaka kaka moke.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:

10 Kasi tango kokokisama ekokoma, oyo ezali moke ekolimwa.

but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away.

11 Tango nazalaki mwana moke, nazalaki koloba lokola mwana moke, nazalaki kokanisa lokola mwana moke, mpe nazalaki na mayele lokola ya mwana moke; kasi tango nakomaki mokolo, natikaki oyo ekoki na mwana moke.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child.

12 Solo, sik’oyo, tozali komona kaka elilingi, lokola kati na talatala; kasi mokolo ezali, mokolo oyo tokomona penza ndenge esengeli. Sik’oyo nayebi kaka moke; kasi mokolo ezali, mokolo oyo nakoyeba penza nyonso, ndenge Nzambe ayebi ngai.

For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.

13 Boye sik’oyo, makambo oyo misato ezali kowumela: kondima, elikya mpe bolingo; kasi kati na yango, likambo oyo eleki monene ezali nde bolingo.

And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these [is] love.