[1] I may speak in different languages of men or even angels. But if I don’t have love, then I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal.
[2] I may have the gift of prophecy; I may understand all the secret things ˻of God˼ and know everything; and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I don’t have love, then I am nothing.
[3] I may give everything I have to feed people. And I may even give my body ˻as an offering˼ to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing these things if I don’t have love.
[4] Love is patient, and love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not boast, and it is not proud.
[5] Love is not rude, love is not selfish, and love does not become angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it.
[6] Love is not happy with evil, but love is happy with the truth.
[7] Love patiently accepts all things. Love always trusts, always hopes, and always continues strong.
[8] Love never ends. There are ˻gifts of˼ prophecy, but they will be ended. There are ˻gifts of speaking in different kinds of˼ languages, but those gifts will end. There is ˻the gift of˼ knowledge, but it will be ended.
[9] These things will end, because this knowledge and these prophecies we have are not complete ˻(not perfect)˼.
[10] But when perfection comes, the things that are not complete will end.
[11] When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child; I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways.
[12] It is the same with us. Now we see like we are looking into a dark mirror. But at that time, in the future, we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part. But at that time I will know fully, like God has known me.
[13] So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.