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.

Si yo hablara lenguas humanas y angélicas, pero no tengo amor, he llegado a ser como metal que resuena o címbalo que retiñe.

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).

Y si tuviera el don de profecía, y entendiera todos los misterios y todo conocimiento, y si tuviera toda la fe como para trasladar montañas, pero no tengo amor, nada soy.

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.

Y si diera todos mis bienes para dar de comer a los pobres, y si entregara mi cuerpo para ser quemado, pero no tengo amor, de nada me aprovecha.

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.

El amor es paciente, es bondadoso. El amor no tiene envidia; el amor no es jactancioso, no es arrogante.

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.

No se porta indecorosamente; no busca lo suyo, no se irrita, no toma en cuenta el mal recibido.

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

El amor no se regocija de la injusticia, sino que se alegra con la verdad.

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.

Todo lo sufre, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta.

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.

El amor nunca deja de ser. Pero si hay dones de profecía, se acabarán; si hay lenguas, cesarán; si hay conocimiento, se acabará.

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

Porque en parte conocemos, y en parte profetizamos;

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the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

pero cuando venga lo perfecto, lo incompleto se acabará.

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.

Cuando yo era niño, hablaba como niño, pensaba como niño, razonaba como niño; pero cuando llegué a ser hombre, dejé las cosas de niño.

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].

Porque ahora vemos por un espejo, veladamente, pero entonces veremos cara a cara. Ahora conozco en parte, pero entonces conoceré plenamente, como he sido conocido.

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

Y ahora permanecen la fe, la esperanza, el amor: estos tres; pero el mayor de ellos es el amor.