1 Wakorintho 13
1 Hata kama nitasema kwa lugha za wanadamu na za malaika, kama sina upendo, nimekuwa kengele inayolialia au toazi livumalo.
Though I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have no love, I am become a clanging brass, or a clashing cymbal.
2 Ningekuwa na karama ya unabii na kujua siri zote na maarifa yote, hata kama nina imani kiasi cha kuweza kuhamisha milima, kama sina upendo, mimi si kitu.
Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 Kama nikitoa mali yote niliyo nayo na kama nikijitolea mwili wangu uchomwe moto, kama sina upendo, hainifaidi kitu.
And though I sell all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it avails me nothing.
4 Upendo huvumilia, upendo hufadhili, upendo hauoni wivu, hauna majivuno, hauna kiburi.
Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love makes no parade, is not puffed up,
5 Haukosi kuwa na adabu, hautafuti mambo yake, haukasiriki upesi, hauweki kumbukumbu ya mabaya.
is not rude, nor selfish, nor easily provoked. Love bears no malice, never rejoices over wrong-doing,
6 Upendo haufurahii mabaya bali hufurahi pamoja na kweli.
but rejoices when the truth rejoices.
7 Upendo huvumilia yote, huamini yote, hutumaini yote, hustahimili yote.
It knows how to be silent, it is trustful, hopeful, patient, enduring.
8 Upendo haushindwi kamwe. Lakini ukiwepo unabii, utakoma; zikiwepo lugha, zitakoma; yakiwepo maarifa, yatapita.
Love never fails; but though there are prophecies, they will fail; though there are tongues, they will cease; though there is knowledge, it will be superseded.
9 Kwa maana tunafahamu kwa sehemu na tunatoa unabii kwa sehemu.
For our knowing is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect;
10 Lakini ukamilifu ukija, yale yasiyo kamili hutoweka.
but when the perfect is come, then the perfect will be done away.
11 Nilipokuwa mtoto, nilisema kama mtoto, niliwaza kama mtoto, nilifikiri kama mtoto. Nilipokuwa mtu mzima niliacha mambo ya kitoto.
When I was a child I spoke like a child, felt like a child, thought like a child; now that I am become a man, I have done with childish things.
12 Kwa maana sasa tunaona taswira kama kwa kioo, lakini wakati huo tutaona wazi. Sasa nafahamu kwa sehemu, wakati huo nitafahamu kikamilifu, kama vile mimi ninavyofahamika kikamilifu.
For now we see as in a mirror, and are baffled, but then face to face; now I know in fragments, but then shall I understand even as I also have been understood.
13 Basi sasa, yanadumu mambo haya matatu: Imani, tumaini na upendo. Lakini lililo kuu miongoni mwa haya matatu ni upendo.
Faith, Hope, Love endure - these three; but the greatest of these is Love.
