Scripture Verse

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. 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. 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. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3

Introduction

portrait
Charles C. Converse
(1834–1918)

Words: Su­san H. Pe­ter­son, 1998 (pub­lic do­main).

Music: Er­ie Charles C. Con­verse, 1868 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Susan Peterson
(1950–2004)

Lyrics

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.