1 Corinthians · Chapter 13

[ edit] If I ſpeke wiþ tungis of men and aungels, ſoþli I haue not charite, I am maad as bras ſownnynge, or a ſymbal tynkynge. And if I ſchal haue propheſye, and haue knowun alle myſteries, and al kunnynge, or ſcience, and if I ſchal haue al feiþ, ſo þat I bere ouere hillis fro o place to anoþer, forſoþ if I ſchal not haue charite, I am noȝt. And if I ſchal departe alle my goodis into metis of pore men, and if I ſchal bytake my body, ſo þat I brenne, forſoþe if I ſchal not haue charite, it profitiþ to me no þing.

Charite is pacient, it is benygne, or of good will, charite enuyeþ not, it doþ not gyle, it is not inblowyn wiþ pride, it is not ambicious, or coueitous of worſchipis, it ſekiþ not þo þingis þat ben her owne, it is not ſtirid to wraþþe, it þenkiþ not yuel, it ioyeþ not in wickidneſſe, forſoþ it ioyeþ togidere to treuþe; it ſuffriþ alle þingis, it bileueþ alle þingis, it hopiþ alle þingis, it ſuſteyneþ alle þingis. Charite falliþ not down, where prophecyes ſchulen be voydid, eþer langagis ſchulen ceeſſe, eþer ſcience ſchal be diſtroyed. Forſoþ of party we han knowen, and of party we propheſien; forſoþe whanne þat ſchal come þat is perfyt, þat þing þat is of party, ſchal be avoydid.

Whanne I was a litil child, I ſpak as a litil child, I vndirſtood as a litil child, I þouȝte as a litil child; forſoþ whanne I was maad man, I auoydide þo þingis þat weren of a litil child. Forſoþ we ſeen now by a myrour in a derkneſſe, þanne forſoþe face to face; now I knowe of party, þanne forſoþ I ſchal knowe, as and I am knowyn. Now forſoþe dwellen feiþ, hope, and charite, þes þre; forſoþ þe mooſte of þes is charite.