The Excellence of Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love in my heart, I am only a noisy gong.

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 have not love in my heart, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love in my heart, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not arrogant.

Love is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered, or resentful.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

For where there are prophecies, they shall fail, where there are tongues, they shall cease, where there is knowledge, it shall vanish away.

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

1Corinthians 13