المحبة

13 لَوْ كُنْتُ أَتَكَلَّمُ بِلُغَاتِ النَّاسِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي مَحَبَّةٌ، لَمَا كُنْتُ إِلّا نُحَاساً يَطِنُّ وَصَنْجاً يَرِنُّ! وَلَوْ كَانَتْ لِي مَوْهِبَةُ النُّبُوءَةِ، وَكُنْتُ عَالِماً بِجَمِيعِ الأَسْرَارِ وَالْعِلْمِ كُلِّهِ، وَكَانَ عِنْدِي الإِيمَانُ كُلُّهُ حَتَّى أَنْقُلَ الْجِبَالَ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي مَحَبَّةٌ، فَلَسْتُ شَيْئاً! وَلَوْ قَدَّمْتُ أَمْوَالِي كُلَّهَا لِلإِطْعَامِ، وَسَلَّمْتُ جَسَدِي لأُحْرَقَ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي مَحَبَّةٌ، لَمَا كُنْتُ أَنْتَفِعُ شَيْئاً. الْمَحَبَّةُ تَصْبِرُ طَوِيلاً؛ وَهِيَ لَطِيفَةٌ. الْمَحَبَّةُ لَا تَحْسُدُ. الْمَحَبَّةُ لَا تَتَفَاخَرُ وَلا تَتَكَبَّرُ. لَا تَتَصَرَّفُ بِغَيْرِ لِيَاقَةٍ، وَلا تَسْعَى إِلَى مَصْلَحَتِهَا الْخَاصَّةِ. لَا تُسْتَفَزُّ سَرِيعاً، وَلا تَنْسِبُ الشَّرَّ لأَحَدٍ. لَا تَفْرَحُ بِالظُّلْمِ، بَلْ تَفْرَحُ بِالْحَقِّ. إِنَّهَا تَسْتُرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَتُصَدِّقُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَتَرْجُو كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَتَتَحَمَّلُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ. الْمَحَبَّةُ لَا تَزُولُ أَبَداً. أَمَّا مَوَاهِبُ النُّبُوآتِ فَسَتُزَالُ، وَمَوَاهِبُ اللُّغَاتِ سَتَنْقَطِعُ، وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ سَتُزَالُ. فَإِنَّ مَعْرِفَتَنَا جُزْئِيَّةٌ وَنُبُوءَتَنَا جُزْئِيَّةٌ. 10 وَلَكِنْ، عِنْدَمَا يَأْتِي مَا هُوَ كَامِلٌ، يُزَالُ مَا هُوَ جُزْئِيٌّ.

11 فَلَمَّا كُنْتُ طِفْلاً، كُنْتُ أَتَكَلَّمُ كَالطِّفْلِ، وَأَشْعُرُ كَالطِّفْلِ، وَأُفَكِّرُ كَالطِّفْلِ. وَلَكِنْ، لَمَّا صِرْتُ رَجُلاً، أَبْطَلْتُ مَا يَخُصُّ الطِّفْلَ. 12 وَنَحْنُ الآنَ نَنْظُرُ إِلَى الأُمُورِ كَمَا فِي مِرْآةٍ فَلا نَرَاهَا وَاضِحَةً. إِلّا أَنَّنَا سَنَرَاهَا أَخِيراً مُوَاجَهَةً. الآنَ، أَعْرِفُ مَعْرِفَةً جُزْئِيَّةً. وَلَكِنِّي، عِنْدَئِذٍ، سَأَعْرِفُ مِثْلَمَا عُرِفْتُ.

13 أَمَّا الآنَ، فَهذِهِ الثَّلاثَةُ بَاقِيَةٌ: الإِيمَانُ، وَالرَّجَاءُ، وَالْمَحَبَّةُ. وَلَكِنَّ أَعْظَمَهَا الْمَحَبَّةُ!

13 Se anche parlassi le lingue degli uomini e degli angeli, ma non avessi la carità, sono come un bronzo che risuona o un cembalo che tintinna.

E se avessi il dono della profezia e conoscessi tutti i misteri e tutta la scienza, e possedessi la pienezza della fede così da trasportare le montagne, ma non avessi la carità, non sono nulla.

E se anche distribuissi tutte le mie sostanze e dessi il mio corpo per esser bruciato, ma non avessi la carità, niente mi giova.

La carità è paziente, è benigna la carità; non è invidiosa la carità, non si vanta, non si gonfia, non manca di rispetto, non cerca il suo interesse, non si adira, non tiene conto del male ricevuto, non gode dell'ingiustizia, ma si compiace della verità. Tutto copre, tutto crede, tutto spera, tutto sopporta. La carità non avrà mai fine. Le profezie scompariranno; il dono delle lingue cesserà e la scienza svanirà. La nostra conoscenza è imperfetta e imperfetta la nostra profezia. 10 Ma quando verrà ciò che è perfetto, quello che è imperfetto scomparirà. 11 Quand'ero bambino, parlavo da bambino, pensavo da bambino, ragionavo da bambino. Ma, divenuto uomo, ciò che era da bambino l'ho abbandonato. 12 Ora vediamo come in uno specchio, in maniera confusa; ma allora vedremo a faccia a faccia. Ora conosco in modo imperfetto, ma allora conoscerò perfettamente, come anch'io sono conosciuto.

13 Queste dunque le tre cose che rimangono: la fede, la speranza e la carità; ma di tutte più grande è la carità!

13 Though 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 though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

13 If I speak in the tongues[a](A) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy(B) and can fathom all mysteries(C) and all knowledge,(D) and if I have a faith(E) that can move mountains,(F) but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor(G) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b](H) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient,(I) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(J) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(K) it is not easily angered,(L) it keeps no record of wrongs.(M) Love does not delight in evil(N) but rejoices with the truth.(O) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(P)

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(Q) they will cease; where there are tongues,(R) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part(S) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(T) 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(U) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(V) then we shall see face to face.(W) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(X)

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames