1 If I speak in the tongues of men, or even angels, but don’t have love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand indeed all mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but don’t have love, I am absolutely nothing. 3 And if I give away everything I own and surrender my body to the flames, but don’t have love, it doesn’t benefit me a thing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It doesn’t envy, it isn’t self-exalting, it isn’t prideful, 5 it doesn’t conduct itself shamefully, it isn’t self-seeking, it isn’t easily angered, it doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, 6 it finds no joy in wickedness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always endures, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never ends. If there are prophecies, however, they will be brought to an end; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be brought to an end. 9 It is only in part, you see, that we know, and only in part that we prophesy. 10 When the complete arrives, however, the partial will be brought to an end. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For we see at the present time only a blurry reflection in obscure riddle; at that time, however, we will see face to face. At the present time I know only in part; at that time, however, I will know fully, even as I was fully known. 13 For the time being, though, faith, hope, and love continue, these three. Love is of these, however, the greatest.