OEBcth - I Corinthians - 13

13:1  Though I speak in the ‘tongues’ of people, or even of angels, yet have not love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal!

13:2  Even though I have the gift of preaching, and fathom all hidden truths and all the depths of knowledge; even though I have such faith as might move mountains, yet have not love, I am nothing!

13:3  Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body in order to boast, yet have not love, it avails me nothing!

13:4  love is long-suffering, and kind; love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly;

13:5  love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs;

13:6  love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of truth;

13:7  love bears with all things, every trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient.

13:8  love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will be done with; whether it be the gift of ‘tongues,’ it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will be done with.

13:9  For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete,

13:10  but, when the perfect has come, that which is incomplete will be done with.

13:11  When I was a child, I talked as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; now that I am a man, I have done with childish ways.

13:12  As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then — face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I will know in full, as I have been fully known.

13:13  Meanwhile faith, hope, and love endure — these three, but the greatest of these is love.