我若能说人间的方言，甚至天使的语言，却没有爱，我就成为鸣的锣、响的钹一般。
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.
2我若有先知讲道的能力，也明白各样的奥秘，各样的知识，而且有齐备的信心，使我能够移山，却没有爱，我就算不了什么。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.
3我若将所有的财产救济穷人，又牺牲自己的身体让人夸赞☛“让人夸赞”：有古卷是“给人当作祭品焚烧”。，却没有爱，仍然对我无益。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.
4爱是恒久忍耐；又有恩慈；爱是不嫉妒；爱是不自夸，不张狂，Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5不做害羞的事，不求自己的益处，不轻易发怒，不计算人的恶，Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6不喜欢不义，只喜欢真理；Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8爱是永不止息。先知讲道之能终必归于无有；说方言☛“方言”或译“灵语”。之能终必停止；知识也终必归于无有。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.
9我们现在所知道的有限，先知所讲的也有限，For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10等那完全的来到，这有限的必消逝。But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11我作孩子的时候，说话像孩子，心思像孩子，意念像孩子；既长大成人，就把孩子的事丢弃了。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我们现在是对着镜子观看，模糊不清☛“模糊不清”：原文直译“如同猜谜”。；到那时，就要面对面了。我如今所认识的有限，到那时就全认识，如同主认识我一样。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如今常存的有信，有望，有爱这三样，其中最大的是爱。And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.