p. 4 | First Corinthians 13 by E. F. Johnstone

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 30, 1911

By E. F. Johnstone

Tho I with tongues of men may speak, and angels' tongues as well — Tho I with pleasing eloquence of things divine may tell — Unless my acts are acts of love to men of every class, Like clanging cymbal I'm become, or as the sounding brass.

Tho I've the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries, too, And tho all knowledge I possess of things both old and new, And tho my faith is such that I the mountains might remove, If I have not the love of Christ, in vain these gifts must prove.

And tho I scatter all my wealth to those who are in need, And tho I give my living flesh the hungry flames to feed, Unless the love of Christ has come within my heart to reign, Whatever else I may possess for me is all in vain.

Love is long-suffering and kind to all men, great and small; Love envies not, vaunts not itself, is not puffed up at all; Unseemly it does not behave; its own it seeketh not; It is not easily provoked, and thinks no evil thought;

Rejoices not in wickedness, but does in truth rejoice; Bears, hopes, believes, endures, all things, and does the same from choice. Love never fails; but prophecies shall fail and tongues shall cease, And present knowledge pass away — love ever reigns in peace.

For now we see only in part — part prophecy to-day; But when that which is perfect comes the partial's done away; I, when a child, spake as a child, so understood and thought; But soon as I became a man I childish things forgot, And now abide faith, hope, and love — may they abide with me; But love is now and evermore the greatest of the three.