1 If in the languages of the humans I would speak, even the languages of the angels, yet I had not loving-kindness, I would have become a noising copper gong or yelling* cymbal.
2 And if I would have prophecy and I would comprehending see all the mysteries and all the knowledge, and if I would have all the faith, as indeed to change the placement of mountains, yet I had not loving-kindness, I am nothing.
3 And if I would hand-feed away all the belongings of mine, and I would hand over the body of mine so that it be burnt, yet I had not loving-kindness, I am helped nothing.
4 The loving-kindness is great-hearted, the loving-kindness is benevolent, does not vie, does not brag, is not puffed up,
5 does not behave disgracefully, does not seek the things of its own, is not goaded, does not calculate what is evil,
6 does not rejoice over what is unjust but rejoices together with the truth,
7 bears all things, entrusts all things, hopes all things, endures all things.*
8 The loving-kindness never falls*, whether there is prophecies, they will be brought down to inertia; whether there is tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be brought down to inertia.
9 For from part we know, and from part we prophesy.
10 Yet when the complete would come, *what is from part is brought down to inertia.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I reasoned as a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 Indeed: now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know thoroughly just as even I am known thoroughly.
13 Yet now abide faith, hope, loving-kindness, the three of these. Yet the greater of these is the loving-kindness.
Notes
1 Or clanging (the verb alalázo is onomatopoeia that refers firstly to the repetitive yelling used in ancient warcries)
4 Oone could also translate with "Love is magnanimous, love is virtuous". The word "magnanimous" is much alike the Ancient Greek word being translated, makrothumia. Here we use "great-hearted", a word that is close to "magnanimous" in meaning, but is easier to understand.
7 Or bears always, entrusts always, hopes always, endures always
8 Some manuscripts have falls out (ekpípto, used to refer to trees falling down, money no longer being currency, etc.)
10 Some manuscripts add then