Parallel Verses

An Understandable Version

If I have the ability to speak in the languages of human beings and angels [Note: Perhaps the idea is supernaturally and eloquently], but do not have love [for people], I have become [no more than] a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

New American Standard Bible

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

King James Version

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.

Holman Bible

If I speak human or angelic languages
but do not have love,
I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

International Standard Version

If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal.

A Conservative Version

If I speak with the tongues of men and of heavenly agents, but have not love, I have become sounding brass, or a clashing cymbal.

American Standard Version

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

Amplified

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].

Anderson New Testament

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of an gels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

Bible in Basic English

If I make use of the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am like sounding brass, or a loud-tongued bell.

Common New Testament

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Daniel Mace New Testament

For tho' I should speak with the eloquence of men, and of angels, and not have social affection, I should be like sounding brass, or a noisy cymbal.

Darby Translation

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

Godbey New Testament

If I may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not divine love, I have become a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Goodspeed New Testament

I will show you a far better way. If I can speak the languages of men and even of angels, but have no love, I am only a noisy gong or a clashing cymbal.

John Wesley New Testament

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

Julia Smith Translation

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I have been the brass of echoes, and the shouting cymbal.

King James 2000

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

Lexham Expanded Bible

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a ringing brass gong or a clashing cymbal.

Modern King James verseion

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

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Though I spake with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I were even as sounding brass: or as a tinkling cymbal.

Moffatt New Testament

Thus, I may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but if I have no love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal;

Montgomery New Testament

Though I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have no love, I am become a clanging brass, or a clashing cymbal.

NET Bible

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

New Heart English Bible

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

Noyes New Testament

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

Sawyer New Testament

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

The Emphasized Bible

Although with the tongues of men, I be speaking, and of messengers, and have not, love, I have become resounding brass, or a clanging cymbal;

Thomas Haweis New Testament

THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become as sounding brass, and tinkling cymbal.

Twentieth Century New Testament

Though I speak in the 'tongues' of men, or even of angels, yet have not Love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal!

Webster

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.

Weymouth New Testament

If I can speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but am destitute of Love, I have but become a loud-sounding trumpet or a clanging cymbal.

Williams New Testament

If I could speak the languages of men, of angels too, and have no love, I am only a rattling pan or a clashing cymbal.

World English Bible

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

Worrell New Testament

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

Worsley New Testament

For if I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am but as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Youngs Literal Translation

If with the tongues of men and of messengers I speak, and have not love, I have become brass sounding, or a cymbal tinkling;

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
ἐάν 
Ean 
Usage: 155

I speak
λαλέω 
Laleo 
Usage: 235

with the tongues
γλῶσσα 
Glossa 
Usage: 48

of men
ἄνθρωπος 
Anthropos 
man, not tr,
Usage: 316

and


δέ 
De 
and, also, even, both, then, so, likewise, not tr., , vr and
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 0
Usage: 2184

of angels
G32
ἄγγελος 
Aggelos 
Usage: 153

ἔχω 
Echo 
have, be, need , , vr have
Usage: 479

not
μή 
me 
not, no, that not, God forbid 9, lest, neither, no man , but, none, not translated,
Usage: 493

G26
ἀγάπη 
Agape 
Usage: 105

I am become
γίνομαι 
Ginomai 
be, come to pass, be made, be done, come, become, God forbid , arise, have, be fulfilled, be married to, be preferred, not tr, , vr done
Usage: 531

ἠχέω 
Echeo 
Usage: 1

χαλκός 
Chalkos 
Usage: 4

or
ἤ 
or, than, either, or else, nor, not tr,
Usage: 199

ἀλαλάζω 
Alalazo 
Usage: 2

Devotionals

Devotionals about 1 Corinthians 13:1

References

Images 1 Corinthians 13:1

Prayers for 1 Corinthians 13:1

Context Readings

Love, The More Excellent Way

1 If I have the ability to speak in the languages of human beings and angels [Note: Perhaps the idea is supernaturally and eloquently], but do not have love [for people], I have become [no more than] a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the [spiritual] gift of prophecy, and can understand all [of God's] secret purposes, and have all knowledge; and if I have all [the supernatural] faith necessary to relocate mountains [See Matt. 17:20], but do not have love [for people], I am nothing.

Cross References

Romans 14:15

For if your brother is hurt [spiritually] by [your eating a certain] food, you are no longer acting lovingly [toward him]. Do not destroy [spiritually] the person Christ died for by what you eat.

1 Corinthians 8:1

I now want to reply to the matter of idolatrous sacrifices [which you wrote to me about]. We know that we all possess knowledge. [Note: This may be a statement posed to Paul by the Corinthians, who seemed quite preoccupied with "knowledge"]. Knowledge [only] makes people arrogant, while love builds them up [spiritually].

1 Corinthians 12:8

For one person is given the [supernatural] message of wisdom through the Holy Spirit; another person is given the [supernatural] message of knowledge by means of the same Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:16

And if the ear should say, "I am not part of the body because I am not the eye," that does not mean it is not part of the body [does it ?]

1 Corinthians 12:29-30

Are all [ministers in the church] apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all perform miracles?

1 Corinthians 13:2-3

And if I have the [spiritual] gift of prophecy, and can understand all [of God's] secret purposes, and have all knowledge; and if I have all [the supernatural] faith necessary to relocate mountains [See Matt. 17:20], but do not have love [for people], I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:8

Love will never cease. But though there are [now supernatural gifts of] prophecies, [someday] they will be abolished [i.e., such gifts will cease to be exercised]. Though there are [now supernatural gifts of] languages, [someday] they will stop [i.e., such gifts will cease to be exercised]. Though there is [now the supernatural gift of] knowledge, [someday] it will be abolished [i.e., this gift will cease to be exercised].

1 Corinthians 14:6-8

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in languages [supernaturally], how will I benefit you unless my speaking consists of a revelation [from God], or a [message of] knowledge [See 12:8], or a prophecy, or a teaching? [i.e., the message must be intelligible to be beneficial].

2 Corinthians 12:4

was [actually] taken up into Paradise. [Note: This is the same as the "third heaven" of the previous verse, and was a place in the presence of God. See Luke 23:43; Rev. 2:7]. There he heard inexpressible words which are not permitted for people to repeat.

Galatians 5:6

For in [our relationship with] Christ neither the practice of circumcision nor refraining from its practice matters in any way; but [all that really matters is having a genuine] faith [in Christ] that causes us to work [for Him] out of a genuine love [for Him and others].

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,

1 Timothy 1:5

But the goal of this instruction is [to] love [God and people] from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Peter 4:8

Above everything else, have a warm love for one another, for such a love keeps many sins from occurring [between you].

2 Peter 2:18

[Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.

Matthew 25:45

Then the Lord will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, since you did not do it for one of these least [significant brothers of mine], you did not do it for me.'

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain