GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal.
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If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing.
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If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don't have love, none of these things will help me.
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If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant.
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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs.
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It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth.
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Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
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It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used.
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Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete.
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For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used.
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but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.
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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 behind me.
12 Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.
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For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.
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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.