1 Corinthians 13:
1Though I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become
as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though
I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all
faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to
be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is
not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh
no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in
the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Charity never faileth: but whether
there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there
be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in
part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which
is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall
be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a
child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I
know even as also I am known. 13And now abideth
faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity.
The King James Version, (Cambridge:
Cambridge) 1769.
Commentary on love
(charity).
Suffering the cross