1 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;
2 I may prophesy, fathom all mysteries and secret lore, I may have such absolute faith that I can move hills from their place, but if I have no love, I count for nothing;
3 I may distribute all I possess in charity, I may give up my body to be burnt, but if I have no love, I make nothing of it.
4 Love is very patient, very kind. Love knows no jealousy; love makes no parade, gives itself no airs,
5 is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful;
6 love is never glad when others go wrong, love is gladdened by goodness,
7 always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient.
8 Love never disappears. As for prophesying, it will be superseded; as for 'tongues,' they will cease; as for knowledge, it will be superseded.
9 For we only know bit by bit, and we only prophesy bit by bit;
10 but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be superseded.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I argued like a child; now that I am a man, I am done with childish ways.
12 At present we only see the baffling reflections in a mirror, but then it will be face to face; at present I am learning bit by bit, but then I shall understand, as all along I have myself been understood.
13 Thus 'faith and hope and love last on, these three,' but the greatest of all is love.