IF I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up;
Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.
We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know I part; but then I shall know even as I am known.
And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.
Canonical academic citations for 1 Corinthians 13 (DRB) — copy in your preferred format.
1 Corinthians 13 (DRB). Prime Bible, accessed August 23, 2026. https://primebible.com/drb/1-corinthians/13.
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Love surpasses all gifts: without it tongues, prophecy, knowledge, and sacrifice are nothing. Love’s qualities (patient, kind, etc.) endure while gifts cease; faith, hope, and love remain, the greatest being love.
Guidance for church order and unity.
1 Corinthians 13 is presented with the full Greek interlinear, Strong's numbers, and verse-by-verse cross-references on Prime Bible — a free, nonprofit Bible study platform.