Love

1What if I could speak

all languages of humans

and of angels?

If I did not love others,

I would be nothing more

than a noisy gong

or a clanging cymbal.

2What if I could prophesy13.2: Mt 17.20; 21.21; Mk 11.23.

and understand all secrets

and all knowledge?

And what if I had faith

that moved mountains?

I would be nothing,

unless I loved others.

3What if I gave away all

that I owned

and let myself

be burnt alive?13.3 and let myself be burnt alive: Some manuscripts have “so that I could boast.”

I would gain nothing,

unless I loved others.

4Love is kind and patient,

never jealous, boastful,

proud, or 5rude.

Love isn't selfish

or quick-tempered.

It doesn't keep a record

of wrongs that others do.

6Love rejoices in the truth,

but not in evil.

7Love is always supportive,

loyal, hopeful,

and trusting.

8Love never fails!

Everyone who prophesies

will stop,

and unknown languages

will no longer

be spoken.

All that we know

will be forgotten.

9We don't know everything,

and our prophecies

are not complete.

10But what is perfect

will some day appear,

and what isn't perfect

will then disappear.

11When we were children,

we thought and reasoned

as children do.

But when we grew up,

we stopped our childish ways.

12Now all we can see of God

is like a cloudy picture

in a mirror.

Later we will see him

face to face.

We don't know everything,

but then we will,

just as God completely

understands us.

13For now there are faith,

hope, and love.

But of these three,

the greatest is love.