1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have 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 does not dishonor others, 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 completeness comes, what is in part 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 the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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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The re-writing

If I speak at all, but do not have love, I am only a mundane object making a whole lot of noise ² If I have the gift of wisdom and can quote the entire bible , and if I have found a way to attend church every day of the week, but do not have love, I am . ³ If I give all I have to those who have none, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is kind, love is faithful. It does not accuse, it does not judge, it is not envy. ⁵  Love does not exclude, it is not superficial, it is not arrogant, it keeps promises. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in what is good.⁷ Love always defends, always encourages, always comes through, always protects.

⁸ Love never disappoints. But where there are buildings, they will crumble; where there are tunnels, they will cave in; where there is information, it will be gone. ⁹ For we all build incompletely ¹⁰ but when the new era dawns, the era of completion, what is made in part will cease to exist.

¹¹ When I was child, I thought like a child, I saw the world as a child. When I became a man, I saw the universe on a by far larger scale. ¹² For now we do not see everything entirely; then we’ll see the bigger picture. Now I know partly; then I completely, even as I am completely seen.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.