1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)
Love
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and
of angels, but have not love, I am only
a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of
prophecy and can fathom all mysteries
and all knowledge, and if I have a
faith that can move mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I
give all I possess to the poor and
surrender my body to the flames, but
have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does
not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not
self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth. 7 It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there
are prophecies, they will cease; where
there are tongues, they will be stilled;
where there is knowledge, it will pass
away. 9 For we know in part and we
prophesy in part, 10 but when
perfection comes, the imperfect
disappears. 11 When I was a child, I
talked like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I put childish ways
behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor
reflection as in a mirror; then we shall
see face to face. Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully, even as I am
fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith,
hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love.