Book of Common Prayer

The nature and attributes of love.

13 Though I spoke with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I would be even as sounding brass, or as a ringing cymbal. ² And though I could prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge – yea if I had all faith, so that I could move mountains out of their places – and yet had no love, I would be nothing. ³ And if I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and even if I gave my body to be burned, and yet had no love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long, and is kind. Love does not envy. Love is not contrary, does not swell up, ⁵ does not deal dishonourably, seeks not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not take pleasure in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ suffers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures in all things. ⁸ Though prophesying fail, or tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away, yet love never falls away.

⁹ For our knowledge is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is imperfect shall be put away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I imagined as a child. But as soon as I was a man, I put away childishness. ¹² Now we see as is reflected to us in a mysterious word, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know imperfectly, but then I shall know even as I am known. ¹³ Now faith, hope, and love, these three things abide, but the chief of these is love.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out and charged, saying, Go not into the roads that lead to the Gentiles, and do not enter into the towns of the Samaritans. ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ Go and preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out the devils. Freely you have received; freely give again.

⁹ Do not possess gold or silver or copper coins in your belts, ¹⁰ nor yet a bag for your journey; neither two coats, nor shoes, nor yet a staff. For the workman is worthy to have his keep. ¹¹ In whatever city or town you enter, enquire who is worthy in it, and there remain till you leave. ¹² And when you come into a household, wish it well. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, your peace will come upon it. But if it is not worthy, your peace will return to you again.

¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you, nor will hear your preaching, when you depart out of that house or that town, shake off the dust from your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, it will be easier for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that place.