1 Though I speak in
the ‘tongues’ of men, or even of angels, yet
have not Love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a
clanging cymbal!
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!
3 Even though I
dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my
body, that I may boast, yet have not Love, it avails me
nothing! ⪆⪆
4 Love is long-suffering, and kind; Love is
never envious,
5 never boastful, never conceited, never behaves
unbecomingly; Love is never self-seeking, never provoked,
never reckons up her wrongs;
6 Love never rejoices at evil, but
rejoices in the triumph of Truth; note
7 Love bears with all things,
ever trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient. ⪆⪆
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.
9 For our knowledge
is incomplete,
10 and our preaching is incomplete, but, when the
Perfect has come, that which is incomplete will be done with.
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 then—
face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I
shall 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.
Twentieth Century [1904], THE TWENTIETH CENTURY NEW TESTAMENT A TRANSLATION INTO MODERN ENGLISH Made from the Original Greek (Westcott & Hort's Text) (The Fleming H. Revell Company, NEW YORK & CHICAGO) [word count] [B14200].
