To you, if I speak without love, <br />In tongues of men, angels above, <br />I’ll be a gong just, resounding, <br />Or cymbal, that’s always clanging. <br /> <br />If I’ve the gift of prophecy, <br />And fathom knowledge, mystery, <br />If I have faith to mountains move, <br />I am a naught, if I haven’t love. <br /> <br />If everything, I give the poor, <br />And send my body, up in flames, <br />I gain nothing, if I haven’t love. <br /> <br />Yes, love is patient and is kind; <br />It does not envy any mind; <br />It does not boast, for it’s not proud; <br />’Tis not self-seeking and not rude. <br /> <br />’Tis not angered with ease at all, <br />And does not keep records of fall; <br />In evil, it does not delight, <br />Rejoicing in truth and in light; <br />It always hopes and always trusts; <br />It perseveres and too protects. <br /> <br />Yet, prophecies cease into past, <br />And stilled will be all tongues at last, <br />And knowledge too, will pass away, <br />But never fails, love any day. <br /> <br />We know and prophesy in parts; <br />With time, imperfection departs; <br />As child, I talked like one and thought, <br />And reasoned childishly, a lot. <br /> <br />I put my childish ways behind, <br />When I became a man in mind; <br />A poor reflection now, we see <br />Mirror-like; direct then, ’twill be. <br /> <br />I know in part, then, know fully, <br />When I am known in full, surely. <br />The three remain: faith, hope and love; <br />The greatest being, only love! <br /> <br />Copyright by Dr John Celes 7-5-2007<br /><br />Dr John Celes<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bible-in-poetry-1-corinthians-13/
