28 And (A)God has appointed these in the church: first (B)apostles, second (C)prophets, third teachers, after that (D)miracles, then (E)gifts of healings, (F)helps, (G)administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But (H)earnestly desire the [a]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of (I)prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, (J)so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And (K)though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [b]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

(L)Love suffers long and is (M)kind; love (N)does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [c]puffed up; does not behave rudely, (O)does not seek its own, is not provoked, [d]thinks no evil; (P)does not rejoice in iniquity, but (Q)rejoices in the truth; (R)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (S)For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is [e]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:31 NU greater
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 NU so I may boast
  3. 1 Corinthians 13:4 arrogant
  4. 1 Corinthians 13:5 keeps no accounts of evil
  5. 1 Corinthians 13:10 complete

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