1 Corinthians

Hymn to Christian Love

If I could speak all the human and angelic languages but had no love, I would just be making noise like a clanging cymbal or sounding brass.

If I had the gift of prophecy, understanding all mysteries, possessing all knowledge, and had faith enough to move mountains but lacked love, I would be nothing.

If I gave all I owned to the poor and even sacrificed my body to be burned, but am without love, it would be do no good for me.

Love is patient and kind, without envy. It is not boastful or arrogant. It is not rude, nor does it seek its own interests.

Love overcomes anger and forgives offenses.

It does not rejoice in wrongdoings but celebrates the truth.

Love forgives everything, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love will never end. Prophecies may cease, tongues will be silent, and knowledge will disappear.

For knowledge only partly understands the truth, and the same is true for prophecy.

But when what is perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

When I was a child, I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I grew up, I put away childish ways.

Now, we see dimly as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now, we know only part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now, faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.