1If I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and have all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but I do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and give my body so that I will burn1801 but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy. Love does not brag, it is not proud, 5it does not behave inappropriately, it is not self-oriented.1802 [Love] does not take offense and does not keep track of evil, 6it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails.
But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9We know [only] in part, and we prophesy [only] in part; 10but when that which is complete comes, then that which is incomplete will be done away with. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become full-grown, I have put away childish things. 12Now indeed, we see in a mirror, dimly,1803 but then we shall see face to face. Now I know [only] in part, but then, I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13But now, faith, hope, and love remain: these three, and the greatest of these is love.
About tongues and prophecy: personal and communal edification
- Or “hand over my body/give my body to hardship”—note that CT reads “that I may boast” which has strong support.
- Or “does not seek its own [way]” (Greek ouv zhtei/ ta. e`auth/j)
- Or “darkly, imprecisely”
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
