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.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling 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 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 charity, 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 though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Bolingo ekangaka motema, bolingo etondi na boboto. Bolingo elulaka te, emikumisaka te, emitondisaka na lolendo te,
Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 ebebisaka lokumu ya bato mosusu te, elukaka bolamu na yango moko te, esilikaka te, ebosanaka mabe.
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not easily provoked, 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 things, endureth all things.
8 Bolingo ekotikala kokufa te. Kasi masakoli ekokatana, nkota ekosila, boyebi ekolimwa.
Charity never faileth: but whether [there are] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there are] languages, they shall cease; whether [there is] knowledge, it shall vanish 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 is come, then 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 understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
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 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.
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 abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
