1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3And if I give away all my goods, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but do not have love, I have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and is kind; love envies not, does not brag about itself, is not puffed up. 5Love does not behave disgracefully, does not seek its own things, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, 6Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails. But whether there be prophecies, they shall cease; whether there be languages, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be set aside. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I reasoned as a child; but when I became a man, I set aside the things of a child. 12For now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know exactly as I have been known. 13And now, these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love.