1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2And 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.3And 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.4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8Charity 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.9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11When 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.12For 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.13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13
English Standard Version
The Way of Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (Mt 7:22; Mt 17:20; Mr 11:23; Lu 17:6; Ac 2:18; 1Co 14:1; 1Co 14:39)3If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[1] but have not love, I gain nothing. (Da 3:28; Mt 6:2)4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant (Pr 10:12; Pr 17:9; Ac 7:9; 1Co 4:6; 2Co 6:6; Ga 5:22; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12; 1Th 5:14; 2Ti 2:10; 1Pe 4:8)5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[2] (Ro 4:6; 1Co 10:24; 2Co 5:19)6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (Ro 1:32; 2Th 2:12; 2Jo 1:4; 3Jo 1:3)7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Co 9:12; 1Co 13:4)8Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, (1Co 8:2)10but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. (Joh 15:15)11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (Nu 12:8; Job 36:26; Mt 5:8; 1Co 8:3; 2Co 3:18; 2Co 5:7; Jas 1:23; 1Jo 3:2)13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.