1Though I speak in the ‘tongues’ of people, or even of angels, yet have not love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal!
2Even 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!
3Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body in order to boast, yet have not love, it avails me nothing!
4Love is long-suffering, and kind; love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly;
5love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs;
6love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of truth;
7love bears with all things, ever trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient.
8Love 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.
9For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete,
10but, when the perfect has come, that which is incomplete will be done with.
11When 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.
12As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then — face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I will know in full, as I have been fully known.
13Meanwhile faith, hope, and love endure — these three, but the greatest of these is love.
