1 Wakorintho 13

1 Hata kama nikinena lugha za watu na hata za malaika, lakini kama sina upendo mimi nimekuwa tu kama sauti ya debe tupu au kengele.

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 Tena, naweza kuwa na kipaji cha kutangaza ujumbe wa Mungu, nikafahamu siri zote na kujua kila kitu; naweza kuwa na imani yote hata nikaweza kuihamisha milima, lakini 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 Nikitoa mali yangu yote na kuwapa maskini, na tena nikiutoa mwili wangu uchomwe, kama sina upendo hiyo hainifai chochote.

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 Mwenye upendo huvumilia, hufadhili; mwenye upendo hana wivu, hajidai, wala hajivuni.

Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love makes no parade, is not puffed up,

5 Mwenye upendo hakosi adabu, hatafuti faida yake binafsi, wala hana wepesi wa hasira; haweki kumbukumbu ya mabaya,

is not rude, nor selfish, nor easily provoked. Love bears no malice, never rejoices over wrong-doing,

6 hafurahii uovu, bali hufurahia ukweli.

but rejoices when the truth rejoices.

7 Mwenye upendo huvumilia yote, huamini yote, na hustahimili yote.

It knows how to be silent, it is trustful, hopeful, patient, enduring.

8 Upendo hauna kikomo kamwe. Kama kuna vipaji vya kutangaza ujumbe wa Mungu, hivyo vitatoweka siku moja; kama ni vipaji vya kusema lugha ngeni, vitakoma; kama kuna elimu, nayo itapita.

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there are prophecies, they will fail; though there are tongues, they will cease; though there is knowledge, it will be superseded.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 Maana ujuzi wetu si kamili, na kipaji chetu cha kutangaza neno la Mungu si kamili.

For our knowing is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect;

10 Lakini kile kilicho kikamilifu kitakapofika, vyote visivyo vikamilifu vitatoweka.

but when the perfect is come, then the perfect will be done away.

11 Nilipokuwa mtoto mchanga nilisema kitoto, nilifahamu kitoto, nilifikiri kitoto. Lakini sasa, maadam mimi ni mtu mzima, mambo ya kitoto nimeyaacha.

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 Tunachoona sasa ni kama tu sura hafifu katika kioo, lakini hapo baadaye tutaona uso kwa uso. Sasa ninajua kiasi fulani tu, lakini hapo baadaye nitajua yote kikamilifu, kama vile Mungu anavyonijua mimi.

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 Sasa yanadumu haya matatu: imani, tumaini na upendo; lakini lililo kuu kupita yote ni upendo.

Faith, Hope, Love endure - these three; but the greatest of these is Love.