The More Excellent Way
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Nijaposema kwa lugha za wanadamu na za malaika, kama sina upendo, nimekuwa shaba iliayo na upatu uvumao.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
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.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Tena nikitoa mali zangu zote kuwalisha maskini, tena nikijitoa mwili wangu niungue moto, kama sina upendo, hainifaidii kitu.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Upendo huvumilia, hufadhili; upendo hauhusudu; upendo hautakabari; haujivuni;
5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
haukosi kuwa na adabu; hautafuti mambo yake; hauoni uchungu; hauhesabu mabaya;
6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
haufurahii udhalimu, bali hufurahi pamoja na kweli;
7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
huvumilia yote; huamini yote; hutumaini yote; hustahimili yote.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Upendo haupungui neno wakati wo wote; bali ukiwapo unabii utabatilika; zikiwapo lugha, zitakoma; yakiwapo maarifa, yatabatilika.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
Kwa maana tunafahamu kwa sehemu; na tunafanya unabii kwa sehemu;
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
lakini ijapo ile iliyo kamili, iliyo kwa sehemu itabatilika.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Nilipokuwa mtoto mchanga, nalisema kama mtoto mchanga, nalifahamu kama mtoto mchanga, nalifikiri kama mtoto mchanga; tokea hapo nilipokuwa mtu mzima, nimeyabatilisha mambo ya kitoto.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
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.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Basi, sasa inadumu imani, tumaini, upendo, haya matatu; na katika hayo lililo kuu ni upendo.
