1 KwabaseKhorinte 13

1 Nxa ngingakhuluma ngendimi zabantu lezezingilosi, kodwa ngingelathando, ngizakuba lithusi elikhalayo kumbe insimbi encencethayo.

For if I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am but as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 Njalo loba ngingaba lesiprofetho, ngisazi imfihlo zonke lokwazi konke, njalo uba ngilokholo lonke, ukuze ngisuse izintaba, kodwa ngingelathando, angisilutho.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and am acquainted with all mysteries, and all knowledge: yea if I have faith, even. to remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 Njalo loba ngingabela abayanga konke engilakho, njalo uba nginganikela umzimba wami ukuthi ngitshiswe, kodwa ngingelathando, kakungisizi ngalutho.

And though I give all my substance to feed the poor, and my body to be burnt, and have not charity, I am nothing profited.

4 Uthando luyabekezela, lulobubele; uthando kalulamona; uthando kaluzincomi, kalukhukhunyezwa,

Charity beareth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity is not insolent, is not puffed up,

5 kaluziphathi ngokungafanelanga, kaluzidingeli okwalo, kalucunuki, kalunakani okubi,

doth not behave indecently, is not selfish, is not easily provoked,

6 kaluthokozi ngokungalunganga, kodwa luthokoza eqinisweni;

suspecteth no evil, rejoiceth not at injustice, but rejoiceth in the truth:

7 lusibekela izinto zonke, lukholwa izinto zonke, luthemba izinto zonke, lubekezelela izinto zonke.

covereth all faults, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Uthando kalungeke lwehluleke. Kumbe-ke iziprofetho, zizakwenziwa ziphele; kumbe indimi, zizakhawula; kumbe ulwazi, luzakwenziwa luphele.

Charity never faileth: but as to prophecies, they shall be abolished; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be laid aside.

9 Ngoba sazi nganxanye, siprofetha nganxanye;

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

10 kodwa lapho sekufikile okupheleleyo, khona okuyingxenye kuzakwenziwa ize.

But when that which is perfect shall come, then that which is defective shall be laid aside.

11 Lapho ngilusane, ngakhuluma njengosane, ngaqedisisa njengosane, nganakana njengosane; kodwa kuthe sengiyindoda, ngazenza ize izinto zosane.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned as a child: but when I became a man, I laid aside childish things.

12 Ngoba khathesi sibona esibukweni kaluvivi, kodwa ngalesosikhathi ubuso ngobuso; khathesi ngazi nganxanye, kodwa ngalesosikhathi ngizakwazi njengoba-ke ngangisaziwa.

For we see now as through a mirror obscurely: but then we shall see face to face. Now I know but in part, but then I shall know even as I am known.

13 Njalo khathesi-ke kumi ukholo, ithemba, uthando, lokhu kokuthathu; kodwa okukhulu kulokhu luthando.

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