1 Corinthians 13:1–3
Without love, even the greatest gifts and sacrifices count for nothing
Study it word by word1If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I have become a resounding bronze gong or a clanging cymbal.
2And if I have prophecy and know all the mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3And if I give away as food all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I will be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
In its context
…
4Love is patient, is kind; love does not envy; love does not brag, is not puffed up;
5it does not behave improperly, does not seek its own interests, is not provoked, does not keep a record of evil;
Its words in the original
- γλώσσαιςglōssais· tongue
Tongue.
- ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōn· human being, man
Human being, person, man (without distinguishing male or female).
- λαλῶlalō· speak
Speak, talk.
- ἀγγέλωνangelōn· messenger, angel
Messenger. When sent from heaven, an angel.
- ἀγάπηνagapēn· love
Love.
- ἔχωechō· have
Have, possess, hold.
- γέγοναgegona· become, happen
Become, happen, come about; be born.
- χαλκὸςchalkos· copper, bronze
Copper, bronze; also copper coins.
- ἠχῶνēchōn· sound, roar
Sound, make a noise, roar.
- κύμβαλονkymbalon· cymbal
Cymbal: a metal plate struck to make a loud sound.
- ἀλαλάζονalalazon· wail
Wail loudly; also clang, of a cymbal.
- προφητείανprophēteian· prophecy
Prophecy: a message from God spoken by a prophet; also prophesying.
- εἰδῶeidō· know
Know, understand; also see.
- μυστήριαmystēria· mystery
Mystery: what was hidden and God makes known.
- γνῶσινgnōsin· knowledge
Knowledge.
- πίστινpistin· faith
Faith: firm trust in God; also faithfulness.
- ὥστεhōste· so that
So that, therefore.
- ὄρηorē· mountain
Mountain, hill.
- μεθιστάναιmethistanai· remove, transfer
Remove from office; move, transfer; also lead astray.
- εἰμιeimi· be
Be, exist.
- ψωμίσωpsōmisō· feed
Feed, give food to someone; also give away as food.
- ὑπάρχοντάhyparchonta· be, exist
Be, exist, be present; "what one has", one's possessions.
- παραδῶparadō· hand over
Hand over: put into someone else's hands; also betray, or pass on a teaching.
- σῶμάsōma· body
Body.
- καυθήσομαιkauthēsomai· burn, light
Light; burn.
- ὠφελοῦμαιōpheloumai· help, benefit
Help, be of use.