1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, 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 as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods in food, and though I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.
4Love suffers long, is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, imputes no evil; 6rejoices not at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails; but whether there are prophesyings, they will be done away; whether tongues, they will cease; whether knowledge, it will be done 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 will be done away.
11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; but now that I am become a man, I have done away the things of the child. 12For we see now in a mirror, obscurely; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know fully, even as I also am fully known.
13And now remain faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1Pursue after love; and desire earnestly the spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but with the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he that prophesies, to men he speaks edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.
5I would that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy; for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edification.
6And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in teaching? 7And things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, yet if they give no distinction in the sounds, how shall that be known which is piped or harped? 8For if a trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle? 9So also ye, if ye utter not by the tongue words easily understood, how shall that be known which is spoken? For ye will be speaking into the air.
10So many, it may be, are the kinds of speaking sounds in the world, and none is without significance. 11If then I know not the meaning of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian to me. 12So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound in them to the edification of the church.
13Wherefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Else, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since he knows not what thou sayest? 17For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18I thank God, I speak with tongues more than ye all. 19Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.