1 Corinthians 13, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

Classic

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Modern

2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.

Classic

2And 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.

Modern

3If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.

Classic

3And 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.

Modern

4Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,

Classic

4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Modern

5doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

Classic

5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Modern

6doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

Classic

6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Modern

7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Classic

7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Modern

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

Classic

8Charity 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.

Modern

9For we know in part and we prophesy in part;

Classic

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

Modern

10but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.

Classic

10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Modern

11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

Classic

11When 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.

Modern

12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

Classic

12For 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.

Modern

13But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.

Classic

13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.