The Greatest Gift

This is for my friend.

It was originally written in a language other than English. There are many translations. Some are more poetic than others. I present it here in its entirety, but I have taken the liberty of piecing together parts of the various translations. I truly believe that the original author would wish for it to be presented in the way most easily absorbed, and these pieces are, to my ear, the best toward that end.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy, an understanding of all of God’s secret plans, and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but did not love others, I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor, and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy, and speaking in unknown languages, and special knowledge, will become useless, but love will last forever.

Our knowledge now is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. For now, we see through a glass darkly, but then, face to face. Now, I know in part, but then, I shall know just as I also am known.

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

Please visit my friend and say "Hi!". Be love.

Thank you.