1 I f 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.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 A nd 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).

And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 E ven 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.

And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.

4 L ove 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.

Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up,

5 I t 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.

does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek what is its own, is not quickly provoked, does not impute evil,

6 I t does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth,

7 L ove 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.

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 L ove 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.

Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away.

9 F or our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:

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the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away.

11 W hen 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.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child.

12 F or 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].

For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.

13 A nd so faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these love.