1 A inda que eu falasse as línguas dos homens e dos anjos, e não tivesse amor, seria como o metal que soa ou como o címbalo que retine.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 E ainda que tivesse o dom de profecia, e conhecesse todos os mistérios e toda a ciência, e ainda que tivesse toda fé, de maneira tal que transportasse os montes, e não tivesse amor, nada seria.

And if I have prophetic powers ( the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

3 E ainda que distribuísse todos os meus bens para sustento dos pobres, e ainda que entregasse o meu corpo para ser queimado, e não tivesse amor, nada disso me aproveitaria.

Even if I dole out all that I have food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

4 O amor é sofredor, é benigno; o amor não é invejoso; o amor não se vangloria, não se ensoberbece,

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 n ão se porta inconvenientemente, não busca os seus próprios interesses, não se irrita, não suspeita mal;

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it.

6 n ão se regozija com a injustiça, mas se regozija com a verdade;

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 t udo sofre, tudo crê, tudo espera, tudo suporta.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything.

8 O amor jamais acaba; mas havendo profecias, serão aniquiladas; havendo línguas, cessarão; havendo ciência, desaparecerá;

Love never fails. As for prophecy ( the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

9 p orque, em parte conhecemos, e em parte profetizamos;

For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

10 m as, quando vier o que é perfeito, então o que é em parte será aniquilado.

But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

11 Q uando eu era menino, pensava como menino; mas, logo que cheguei a ser homem, acabei com as coisas de menino.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

12 P orque agora vemos como por espelho, em enigma, mas então veremos face a face; agora conheço em parte, mas então conhecerei plenamente, como também sou plenamente conhecido.

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection '> in a riddle or enigma], but then we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood '> by God].

13 A gora, pois, permanecem a fé, a esperança, o amor, estes três; mas o maior destes é o amor.

And so faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.