1 ¶ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I do not have love, it will sound like noisy brass.

2 A nd 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.

If I have the gift of speaking God’s Word and if I understand all secrets, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I know all things and if I have the gift of faith so I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

3 A nd though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing.

If I give everything I have to feed poor people and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it will not help me.

4 ¶ Charity suffers long and is benign; charity envies not; charity does nothing without due reason, is not puffed up,

Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride.

5 i s not injurious, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil,

Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone.

6 r ejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth.

7 b ears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.

8 ¶ Charity is never lost, but prophecies shall come to an end, tongues shall cease, and knowledge shall come to an end.

Love never comes to an end. The gift of speaking God’s Word will come to an end. The gift of speaking in special sounds will be stopped. The gift of understanding will come to an end.

9 F or we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

For we only know a part now, and we speak only a part.

10 B ut when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When everything is perfect, then we will not need these gifts that are not perfect.

11 W hen I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child. I understood like a child. Now I am a man. I do not act like a child anymore.

12 F or now we see as through a mirror, in darkness, but then we shall see face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I also am known.

Now that which we see is as if we were looking in a broken mirror. But then we will see everything. Now I know only a part. But then I will know everything in a perfect way. That is how God knows me right now.

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

And now we have these three: faith and hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.