Saturday nights in my single gender secondary school was synonymous with Choir Practice. This was not your regular choir practice. It was a praise and worship session for all students which lasted for about two hours. On rare occasions we sang a certain melodious song based on “1 Corinthians 13,” which we all loved.

The almost inaudible voices of the girls mumbling through the stanzas, would suddenly belt out “Love Never Fails.” Each girl stretching out the last chord as far as their young voice would permit.

The rapturous echoes of their voices filled the auditorium and one could almost be certain their voices were heard in the surrounding classes.

Many years has passed and though I haven’t heard this song in a while, the melody lingers on in my mind.

This is probably one of the reasons I often find myself studying this portion of the bible. And with each study comes a deeper insight and a different perspective on the subject of Love. In it, “I See 13” verses encapsulating Love in a way that is almost impossible to live out.

In this post, I want to share my favourite translations. I hope you learn something new that will influence your relationships positively.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction] (Amp). If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing (NIVUK). I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love (ERV).

Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous of others; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up (Darby), It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs (NIRV). Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth (CJB). Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always continues strong (ICB).

Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used (GW).

These things will end, because this knowledge and these prophecies we have are not complete (ICB). but when the perfection and fullness of God’s kingdom arrive, all the parts will end (The Voice).

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. It is the same with us (NCV).

For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God (The Voice).

But now faith, hope, and love remain; these three virtues must characterize our lives. The greatest of these is love (The Voice).



Did you see anything differently? Do share your thoughts below.
Thank you!
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