1Though I spake with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I were even as sounding brass: and as a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I could prophesy, and understood all secrets, and all knowledge: yea, if I had all faith so that I could move mountains out of their places, and yet had no love, I were nothing. 3And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gave my body even that I burned, and yet had no love, it profiteth me nothing.

4Love suffereth long, and is courteous. Love envieth not. Love doth not frowardly, swelleth not, 5dealeth not dishonestly, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh not evil 6rejoiceth not in iniquity: but rejoiceth in the truth, 7suffereth all things, believeth all things hopeth all things, endureth in all things.

8Though that prophesying fail, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge vanish away: yet love falleth never away. 9For our knowledge is unperfect, and our prophesying is unperfect: 10but when that which is perfect is come: then that which is unperfect shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I imagined as a child: but as soon as I was a man I put away childishness. 12Now we see in a glass even in a dark speaking: but then shall we see face to face. Now I know unperfectly: but then shall I know even as I am known. 13Now abideth faith, hope, and love, even these three: but the chief of these is love.