31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.

But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

31 But you should truly want to have the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the best way of all.

1 I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal.

31 But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

31 But desire earnestly the greater gifts, and yet shew I unto you a way of more surpassing excellence.

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

31 You ⸤only⸥ want the better gifts, but I will show you the best thing to do.

1 I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal.

31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

1 If I speak human or angelic languages

but do not have love,

I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a ringing brass gong or a clashing cymbal.

31 But above all, you should want the more important gifts.

And now I will show you the best way of all.

1 Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings and of angels. If I don’t have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal.

31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.