13
Though I speak in thetonguesof people, or even of angels, yet have not love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal! 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! 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! Love is long-suffering, and kind; love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly; love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs; love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of truth; love bears with all things, ever trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient. Love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will end; whether it be the gift oftongues,” it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will vanish. For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete, 10 but, when the perfect has come, that which is incomplete will end. 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. 12 As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but thenface to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I will know in full, as I have been fully known. 13 Meanwhile faith, hope, and love endure – these three, but the greatest of these is love.