1 Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
If I were to have eloquence in human languages—even the language of angels—but have no love, then I would only be an echoing gong or a clashing cymbal.
2 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 charity, I am nothing.
If I were to speak prophecies, to know every secret mystery and be completely knowledgeable, and if I were able to have so much faith I could move mountains, but have no love, then I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
If I were to donate everything I own to the poor, or if I were to sacrifice myself to be burned as a martyr, and have no love, then I gain nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not boastful. Love is not proud.
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Love does not act improperly, or insist on having its own way. Love is not argumentative and doesn't keep a record of wrongs.
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Love takes no delight in evil but celebrates the truth.
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Love never gives up, keeps on trusting, stays confident, and remains patient whatever happens.
8 Charity 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.
Love never fails. Prophecies will come to an end. Tongues will become silent. Knowledge will become useless.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
For our knowledge and our prophetic understanding are incomplete.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
But when completeness comes, then what is incomplete disappears.
11 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.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I grew up I left behind such child-like ways.
12 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.
At the moment we peer into a mirror's dim reflection, but then we shall see face to face. For now I only have partial knowledge, but then I shall know completely, just as I am completely known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
Trust, hope, and love last forever—but the most important is love.
