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.

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 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.

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 Nikitoa mali yangu yote na kuwapa maskini, na tena nikiutoa mwili wangu uchomwe, kama sina upendo hiyo hainifai chochote.

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

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

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

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

6 hafurahii uovu, bali hufurahia ukweli.

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

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

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

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.

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

9 Maana ujuzi wetu si kamili, na kipaji chetu cha kutangaza neno la Mungu si kamili.

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

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

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

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

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