The nature and attributes of love.
1 Though I spoke with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I would be even as sounding brass, or as a ringing cymbal. 2 And though I could prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge – yea if I had all faith, so that I could move mountains out of their places – and yet had no love, I would be nothing. 3 And if I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and even if I gave my body to be burned, and yet had no love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long, and is kind. Love does not envy. Love is not contrary, does not swell up, 5 does not deal dishonourably, seeks not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinks no evil; 6 does not take pleasure in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 suffers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures in all things.
8 Though prophesying fail, or tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away, yet love never falls away.
9 For our knowledge is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is imperfect shall be put away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I imagined as a child. But as soon as I was a man, I put away childishness.
12 Now we see in a glass, even in a dark speaking, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know imperfectly, but then I shall know even as I am known.
13 Now faith, hope, and love, these three things abide, but the chief of these is love.
New Matthew Bible (NMB)
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). All rights reserved.
