THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS

1 Corinthians 13 ©

1 What the apostle had promised in the latter part of the previous chapter, that he would show the Corinthians a more excellent way, this he performs in this chapter, teaching, that love is the principal gift, which Christians must seek after, which he proves by comparing it with other great gifts, as are divers tongues, prophecy, knowledge, working of miracles, liberally relieving the poor, and courageously even to suffer death for the name of Christ; and shows that all such gifts are nothing without love. 4 And praises love because of its excellent properties, and operations. 8 As also because it shall endure and abide always, whereas other gifts shall cease. 9 Seeing they are imperfect in this life. 10 Which he declares by a comparison of the knowledge of a child, and of a grown-up man, and of seeing in a glass, and in the face itself. 13 And finally, because love is greater and more excellent than faith and hope.

1

THOUGH I speak with the 1tongues 2of men and of 3angels, and have not charity,a I am become as 4sounding 5brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2

Andb though I have the gift of 6prophecy, and understand all 7mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all 8faith, so that I could 9remove mountains,c and have not charity, 10I am nothing.

3

And though I bestow all my goods 11to feed the poor, and though I give my body 12to be burned, and 13have not charity, it 14profiteth me nothing.

4

15Charityd16suffereth long, and is 17kind; charity envieth not; charity 18vauntethe not itself, is not 19puffed up,

5

Doth not behave itself 20unseemly, seekethf not 21her own, is not easily 22provoked, 23thinketh no evil;

6

Rejoiceth not 24in iniquity, butg rejoiceth 25in the truth;

7

26Beareth all things, 27believeth all things, 28hopeth all things, 29endureth all things.

8

Charity 30never 31faileth: but whether there be 32prophecies, they 33shall fail; whether there be 34tongues, they 35shall cease; whether there be 36knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9

For 37we know 38in part, and we prophesy in part.

10

But when that which is 39perfect 40is come, then that which is 41in part shall be done away.

11

42When I was a child, I spake as a child, I 43understood as a child, I 44thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away 45childish things.

12

Forh46now we see through a 47glass, 48darkly; but 49then5051face to face: 52now I 53know in part; but 54then shall I know even as also I 55am known.

13

And 56now 57abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the 58greatest of these is charity.