1 KwabaseKhorinte 13

1 Loba ngikhuluma ngendimi zabantu lezezingilosi, kodwa ngingelalo uthando, ngiyinsimbi nje ekhalayo loba izenge elincencethayo.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 Loba ngilesipho sokuphrofitha, ngingaqedisisa imfihlakalo zonke kanye lokwazi konke, njalo nxa ngilokukholwa okungasusa izintaba, kodwa ngingelalo uthando, kangisilutho.

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 love, I am nothing.

3 Loba nginganika abayanga konke engilakho nginikele lomzimba wami emalangabini, kodwa ngingelalo uthando, kangizuzi lutho.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Uthando luyabekezela, uthando lulomusa. Kalulamona, kaluzincomi, kaluzigqaji.

Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Kalusisosiqholo, kaluzifuneli okwalo, kaluphangisi ukuthukuthela, kalubambeli zikhwili.

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Uthando kaluthokozeli okubi, kodwa luthokozela iqiniso.

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Luhlezi luvikela, luhlezi lukholwa, luhlezi lusethemba, luhlezi lubekezela.

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Uthando kalupheli. Kodwa lapho okuleziphrofethi khona, zizaphela, lapho okulezindimi khona, zizathuliswa; lapho okulokwazi khona, kuzakwedlula.

Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 Ngoba sazi ingxenye, njalo siphrofitha ingxenye,

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

10 kodwa lapho ukuphelela kufika, ukungapheleli kuyanyamalala.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 Ngisesengumntwana, ngakhuluma njengomntwana, ngacabanga njengomntwana, nganakana njengomntwana. Sengiyindoda, ngaziyekela izindlela zobuntwana.

When I was a child, I spake 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 Khathesi sibona kalufifi esibukweni; sizabuye sibone ubuso ngobuso. Khathesi ngazi ingxenye; ngizabuye ngazi okupheleleyo, njengoba lami ngisaziwa ngokupheleleyo.

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 Okuthathu lokhu kuma kunjalo: ukukholwa, ithemba lothando. Kodwa okukhulu kwalokhu luthando.

And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.