< 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 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 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 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 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 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 Bolingo ekangaka motema, bolingo etondi na boboto. Bolingo elulaka te, emikumisaka te, emitondisaka na lolendo te,
Love is long-suffering, and is kind; love is not envious; love is not boisterous; and is not inflated;
5 ebebisaka lokumu ya bato mosusu te, elukaka bolamu na yango moko te, esilikaka te, ebosanaka mabe.
and doth nothing that causeth shame; and seeketh not her own; is not passionate; and thinketh no evil;
6 Bolingo eyokaka mawa liboso ya bozangi bosembo, kasi esepelaka na bosolo.
rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Tango nyonso mpe na makambo nyonso, bolingo elimbisaka, endimaka, ezalaka na elikya, eyikaka mpiko.
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all, and endureth all.
8 Bolingo ekotikala kokufa te. Kasi masakoli ekokatana, nkota ekosila, boyebi ekolimwa.
Love will never cease. But prophesyings will end; and tongues will be silent; and knowledge will vanish.
9 Pamba te toyebaka kaka moke, mpe tosakolaka kaka moke.
For we know but partially; and we prophesy but partially.
10 Kasi tango kokokisama ekokoma, oyo ezali moke ekolimwa.
But when completeness shall come, then that which is partial will vanish 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 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 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.
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 Boye sik’oyo, makambo oyo misato ezali kowumela: kondima, elikya mpe bolingo; kasi kati na yango, likambo oyo eleki monene ezali nde bolingo.
For these three things are abiding, faith, and hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.

< 1 Bakolinto 13 >