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Corinthians 13
1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of
angels, but have not love, I am only a
resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal. 2 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 have not
love, I am nothing. 3 If I give
all I possess to the poor and surrender
my body to the flames, but have not
love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient,
love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. 5 It
is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it
is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs. 6 Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. 7 It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
8 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 For we know in part and we
prophesy in part, 10 but when
perfection comes, the imperfect
disappears. 11 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 childish ways behind
me. 12 Now we see but a poor
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 And now these
three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love.
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