1 Corinthians 12:31-14:1
English Standard Version
31 But (A)earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
The Way of Love
13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have (B)prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, (C)so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 (D)If I give away all I have, and (E)if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 (F)Love is patient and (G)kind; love (H)does not envy or boast; it (I)is not arrogant 5 or rude. It (J)does not insist on its own way; it (K)is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it (L)does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but (M)rejoices with the truth. 7 (N)Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, (O)endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For (P)we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but (Q)when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For (R)now we see in a mirror dimly, but (S)then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as (T)I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Prophecy and Tongues
14 (U)Pursue love, and (V)earnestly desire the (W)spiritual gifts, especially that you may (X)prophesy.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts deliver up my body [to death] that I may boast
- 1 Corinthians 13:5 Greek irritable and does not count up wrongdoing
1 Corinthians 12:31-14:1
New International Version
31 Now eagerly desire(A) the greater gifts.
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
13 If I speak in the tongues[a](B) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy(C) and can fathom all mysteries(D) and all knowledge,(E) and if I have a faith(F) that can move mountains,(G) but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor(H) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b](I) but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient,(J) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(K) 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(L) it is not easily angered,(M) it keeps no record of wrongs.(N) 6 Love does not delight in evil(O) but rejoices with the truth.(P) 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(Q)
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(R) they will cease; where there are tongues,(S) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part(T) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(U) what is in part 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 the ways of childhood(V) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(W) then we shall see face to face.(X) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(Y)
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(Z) But the greatest of these is love.(AA)
Intelligibility in Worship
14 Follow the way of love(AB) and eagerly desire(AC) gifts of the Spirit,(AD) especially prophecy.(AE)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
- 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
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