Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.

Though I speak in every language,
Prophesy for God above,
Though I understand all mysteries,
I am nothing without love.
Though through faith I can move mountains,
Give the poor all that I gain,
Though I’m burned alive for Jesus,
Without love, my life is vain.

Love is patient, kind, and selfless,
Envies not, nor boasts in pride,
Is not rude or quickly angered,
Never holds a grudge inside.
Love does not delight in evil,
But with truth rejoices e’er;
Trusts, protects, and hopes forever,
Perseveres and always cares.

One day prophecies will finish;
Tongues will in that day be stilled;
Knowledge, too, will pass forever,
When God’s Word is all fulfilled.
Now we only know a fraction,
And as children think and speak;
When perfection comes upon us,
Childish ways no more we’ll seek.

Now we see as in a mirror,
In a blurred and hazy way.
But reflections soon will vanish;
Face to face we’ll see some day.
In that day we’ll all know fully,
As we’re known by God above;
Till then, faith, hope, love still linger,
But the greatest far is love.

Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
Taught by Thee we covet most
Of Thy gifts of Pentecost
Holy, heavenly Love.

Faith, that mountains could remove,
Tongues of earth or heaven above,
Knowledge—all things—empty prove,
Without heavenly Love.

Though I as a martyr bleed,
Give my goods the poor to feed,
All is vain—if Love I need;
Therefore, give us Love.

Love is kind, and suffers long
Love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
Love than death itself more strong;
Therefore, give us Love.

Prophecy will fade away,
Melting in the light of day,
Love will ever with us stay;
Therefore, give us Love.

Faith will vanish into sight;
Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heaven will shine more bright;
Therefore, give us Love.

Faith and Hope and Love we see
Joining hand in hand agree;
But the greatest of the three,
And the best, is Love.

From the overshadowing
Of Thy gold and silver wing
Shed on us, who to Thee sing,
Holy, heavenly Love.