IF I COULD SPEAK ALL LANGUAGES OF EARTH AND OF ANGELS BUT DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD ONLY BE A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL. IF I HAD THE GIFT OF PROPHECY, AND IF I UNDERSTOOD ALL OF GOD'S SECRET PLANS AND POSSESSED ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAD FAITH THAT I COULD MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD BE NOTHING. IF I GAVE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO THE POOR AND SACRIFICED MY BODY, I COULD BOAST ABOUT IT, BUT IF I DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD HAVE GAINED NOTHING. LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND. LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL OR PROUD OR RUDE. IT DOES NOT DEMAND IT'S OWN WAY. IT IS NOT IRRATIBLE, AND IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF BEING WRONGED. IT DOES NOT REJOICE ABOUT INJUSTICE BUT REJOICES WHENEVER THE THRUTH WINS OUT. LOVE NEVER GIVES UP, NEVER LOSES FAITH, IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL, ENDURES THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, LOVE NEVER FAILS. PROPHECY AND SPEAKING IN UNKNOWN LANUAGES AND SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE WILL BECOME USELESS. BUT LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER! NOW OUR KNOWLEDGE IS PARTIAL AND INCOMPLETE, AND EVEN THE GIFT OF PROPHECY REVEALS ONLY IN PART OF THE WHOLE PICTURE! BUT WHEN THE TIME OF PERFECTION COMES, THESE PARTIAL THINGS WILL BECOME USELESS. WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPOKE AND THOUGHT AND REASONED AS A CHILD. BUT WHEN I GREW UP I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS. NOW WE SEE THINGS IMPERFECTLY, LIKE PUZZLING REFLECTIONS IN A MIRROR, BUT THEN WE WILL SEE EVERYTHING WITH PERFECT CLARITY. ALL THAT I KNOW NOW IS PARTIAL AND INCOMPLETE, BUT THEN I WILL KNOW EVERYTHING COMPLETELY, JUST AS GOD KNOWS ME COMPLETELY. THREE THINGS LAST FOREVER-FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE-BUT THE GREASTEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
