1 Corinthians 13:8-13

New Living Translation

⁸Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages^[a] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ⁹Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! ¹⁰But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. ¹²Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.^[b] All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

¹³Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

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Footnotes

13:8 Or in tongues.
13:12 Greek see face to face.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Amplified Bible

⁸Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. ¹⁰But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. ¹¹When 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 did away with childish things. ¹²For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. ¹³And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

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1 Corinthians 13:8-13

New International Version

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(A) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(B) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part^(C) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when completeness comes,^(D) what is in part disappears. ¹¹When 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^(E) behind me. ¹²For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(F) then we shall see face to face.^(G) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(H)