1
Nijaposema kwa lugha za wanadamu na za malaika, kama sina upendo, nimekuwa shaba iliayo na upatu uvumao.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
2
Tena nijapokuwa na unabii, na kujua siri zote na maarifa yote, nijapokuwa na imani timilifu kiasi cha kuweza kuhamisha milima, kama sina upendo, si kitu mimi.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3
Tena nikitoa mali zangu zote kuwalisha maskini, tena nikijitoa mwili wangu niungue moto, kama sina upendo, hainifaidii kitu.
If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4
Upendo huvumilia, hufadhili; upendo hauhusudu; upendo hautakabari; haujivuni;
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5
haukosi kuwa na adabu; hautafuti mambo yake; hauoni uchungu; hauhesabu mabaya;
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
6
haufurahii udhalimu, bali hufurahi pamoja na kweli;
Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
7
huvumilia yote; huamini yote; hutumaini yote; hustahimili yote.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8
Upendo haupungui neno wakati wo wote; bali ukiwapo unabii utabatilika; zikiwapo lugha, zitakoma; yakiwapo maarifa, yatabatilika.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
9
Kwa maana tunafahamu kwa sehemu; na tunafanya unabii kwa sehemu;
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10
lakini ijapo ile iliyo kamili, iliyo kwa sehemu itabatilika.
but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
11
Nilipokuwa mtoto mchanga, nalisema kama mtoto mchanga, nalifahamu kama mtoto mchanga, nalifikiri kama mtoto mchanga; tokea hapo nilipokuwa mtu mzima, nimeyabatilisha mambo ya kitoto.
When 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 set aside childish ways.
12
Maana wakati wa sasa tunaona kwa kioo kwa jinsi ya fumbo; wakati ule tutaona uso kwa uso; wakati wa sasa nafahamu kwa sehemu; wakati ule nitajua sana kama mimi nami ninavyojuliwa sana.
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13
Basi, sasa inadumu imani, tumaini, upendo, haya matatu; na katika hayo lililo kuu ni upendo.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.