1 Abhakorintho 13
1 Chaike ati enaika kwa jinyaika ja bhana munu ne jabhamalaika. Mbe nawe nikabha nitana kwenda, nili lwe chuma chinu echilila amwi lwa jindege jinu ejimwaya.
Though I speak in the ‘tongues’ of men, or even of angels, yet have not Love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal!
2 Na ati nili ne chiyanwa cho bhulagi no bhumenyi bhwe chimali bhunu bhwiibhisile no bhwengeso, ati nine likilisha elyo kufulula amabhanga. Mbe nawe nikabha nitana kwenda, kwanye chitali chinu.
Even though I have the gift of preaching, and fathom all hidden truths and all the depths of knowledge; even though I have such faith as might move mountains, yet have not Love, I am nothing!
3 Na chaike ati nolwo nikasosha omugabho gwani gwona no kubhalisha abhagasi, nolwo ati nikagusosha omubhili gwani koleleki nochibhwe omulilo. Mbe nawe nikabha nitana kwenda, nitakubhonamo chinu.
Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body, that I may boast, yet have not Love, it avails me nothing!
4 Okwenda okwingumilisha na kuli ne chigongo. Okwenda kutakwikuya amwi kwikusha. kutana chigundu
Love is long-suffering, and kind; Love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly;
5 amwi bhulagi-lagi. Kutakuyenja misango jakwo, kutakubhona bhinyiga bhwangu, nolwo kutakubhala mabhibhi.
love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs;
6 Kutakukondelwa mu bhunyamuke. Amwi nejo, okukondelelwa ne je chimali.
love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of Truth;
7 Okwenda okwigumilisha masango gone; Okwikilisha misango jone, kuli no bhubhasi mu misango jone, no kwikomesha mu misango jone.
love bears with all things, every trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient.
8 Okwenda kuwana bhutelo. Alabha bhukabha bhuli bhulagi, Bhwona bhulichweka. Alabha jikabha jilio jinyaika, jiliwao. Alabha bhukabha bhulio bhwengeso, bhulio.
Love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will be done with; whether it be the gift of ‘tongues,’ it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will be done with.
9 Kulwo kubha echimenya kwe ebhala na echikola kwo bhulagi kwe ebhala.
For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete,
10 Mbe nawe ilibha yaja inu ikumiye, ilya inu itakumiye iliwao.
but, when the Perfect has come, that which is incomplete will be done with.
11 Anu naliga nichali mwana kutiyo, neganilishaga lwo mwana kutiyo, naliga nindamula lwo mwana kutiyo. Nejile nakula nabha munu mukulu, ningata kula amasango ge chitoto.
When I was a child, I talked as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; now that I am a man, I have done with childish ways.
12 Kulwo kubha woli echilolela mwilole, kuti chitakwilola kisi chilio echisute, mbe nawe omwana gulya chililolana obhusu kwo obhusu. Woli enimenya lubhala, mbe nawe mu mwanya gulya nilimenya muno lwa kutyo anye one enimenyekana muno.
As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then — face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I shall know in full, as I have been fully known.
13 Mbe nawe woli mu misango jinu esatu ejigendelela: Elikilisha, no kwenda. Mbe nawe chinu chili chikulu kukila ganu gone nu kwenda.
Meanwhile Faith, Hope, and Love endure — these three, but the greatest of these is Love.
