1 COR 13:8 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will pass away; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will pass away.

UST Those who love others never cease doing so. However, someday people will no longer proclaim what God says. Someday, people will stop speaking unknown languages. Someday, people will no longer know special things.

BSB Love never fails. But where [there are] prophecies, they will cease; where [there are] tongues, they will be restrained; where [there is] knowledge, it will be dismissed.

MSB Love never fails. But where [there are] prophecies, they will cease; where [there are] tongues, they will be restrained; where [there is] knowledge, it will be dismissed.

BLB Love never fails; but if there are prophesies, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will be ceased; if there is knowledge it will pass away.

AICNT Love never {fails};[fn] but whether there are prophecies, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

13:8, fails: 𝔓46 ℵ(01) A B(03) C(04) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “falls away.” D(05) BYZ TR

OEB Love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will end; whether it be the gift of “tongues,” it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will vanish.

CSB Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

NLT Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

NIV Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

CEV Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten.

ESV Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

NASB Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

LSB Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

WEBBE Love 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(8-10)Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

NET Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.

LSV Love never fails; and whether [there be] prophecies, they will become useless; whether tongues, they will cease; whether knowledge, it will become useless;

FBV Love never fails. Prophecies will come to an end. Tongues will become silent. Knowledge will become useless.

TCNT Love never fails. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

T4T We should never [PRS] let anything stop us from continuing to love others. As for the ability to speak messages that come directly from God, some day that will come to an end. As for the ability to speak languages [MTY] that we have not learned, that will also come to an end some day. And as for the ability to know things that God reveals to us, that will come to an end some day because it will not be necessary any more.

LEB Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will pass away. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will pass away.

NRSV Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

NKJV Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

NAB Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

BBE Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end.

Moff Love never disappears. As for prophesying, it will be superseded; as for "tongues," they will cease; as for knowledge, it will be superseded.

Wymth Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if there are languages, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be brought to an end.

ASV Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.

DRA Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed.

YLT The love doth never fail; and whether [there be] prophecies, they shall become useless; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall become useless;

Drby Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away.

RV Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.
(Love never faileth/fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. )

SLT Love never falters: but whether gifts of prophecies, they shall be left unemployed; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall be left unemployed.

Wbstr Charity never faileth: but whether there are prophecies, they shall fail; whether there are languages, they shall cease; whether there is knowledge, it shall vanish away.

KJB-1769 Charity 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.
(Charity never faileth/fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. )

KJB-1611 Charitie neuer faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall faile; whether there bee tongues, they shall cease; whether there bee knowledge, it shall vanish away.
(Charitie never faileth/fails: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.)

Bshps Though ye prophesiynges fayle, other tongues ceasse, or knowledge vanishe away, yet loue falleth neuer away.
(Though ye/you_all prophesiynges fail, other tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away, yet love falleth never away.)

Gnva Loue doeth neuer fall away, though that prophecyings be abolished, or the tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away.
(Love doth/does never fall away, though that prophesyings be abolished, or the tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away. )

Cvdl Though prophecienges fayle, or tunges ceasse, or knowlege perishe, yet loue falleth neuer awaye.
(Though prophesyings fail, or tongues cease, or knowledge perish, yet love falleth never away.)

TNT Though that prophesyinge fayle other tonges shall cease )or knowledge vanysshe awaye yet love falleth never awaye.
(Though that prophesyinge fail other tongues shall cease )or knowledge vanysshe away yet love falleth never away. )

Wycl Charite fallith neuere doun, whether prophecies schulen be voidid, ethir langagis schulen ceesse, ethir science schal be distried.
(Charite fallith never down, whether prophecies should be voidid, either languages should cease, either science shall be destroyed.)

Luth Die Liebe höret nimmer auf, so doch die Weissagungen aufhören werden, und die Sprachen aufhören werden, und die Erkenntnis aufhören wird.
(The love(n) hear never on/in/to, so though/but the prophecy(n)en stop/cease become, and the languages stop/cease become, and the knowledge stop/cease becomes.)

ClVg Caritas numquam excidit: sive prophetiæ evacuabuntur, sive linguæ cessabunt, sive scientia destruetur.[fn]
(Caritas never excidit: if/or prophecies evacuabuntur, if/or tongues/languages cessabunt, if/or knowledge/skill will_destroyur. )

13.8 Charitas. Item in hoc est dignior quia nec in hoc sæculo, nec in futuro finitur, etsi quædam opera ejus cessent. Nunquam excidit. Si credendo et sperando diligimus quod nondum videtur, quanto magis cum videbitur?

13.8 Charity. Item in/into/on this it_is dignior because but_not in/into/on this forever, but_not in/into/on future finitur, even_though some works his cessent. Nunquam excidit. When/But_if by_believing and hopendo diligimus that not_yet it_seems, how_much more when/with it_will_be_seen?

UGNT ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει. εἴτε δὲ προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται; εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται; εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται.
(haʸ agapaʸ oudepote piptei. eite de profaʸteiai, katargaʸthaʸsontai; eite glōssai, pausontai; eite gnōsis, katargaʸthaʸsetai.)

SBL-GNT Ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε ⸀πίπτει. εἴτε δὲ προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται· εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται· εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται.
(Haʸ agapaʸ oudepote ⸀piptei. eite de profaʸteiai, katargaʸthaʸsontai; eite glōssai, pausontai; eite gnōsis, katargaʸthaʸsetai.)

RP-GNT Ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε ἐκπίπτει· εἴτε δὲ προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται· εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται· εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται.
(Haʸ agapaʸ oudepote ekpiptei; eite de profaʸteiai, katargaʸthaʸsontai; eite glōssai, pausontai; eite gnōsis, katargaʸthaʸsetai.)

TC-GNT Ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε [fn]ἐκπίπτει· εἴτε δὲ προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται· εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται· εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται.
(Haʸ agapaʸ oudepote ekpiptei; eite de profaʸteiai, katargaʸthaʸsontai; eite glōssai, pausontai; eite gnōsis, katargaʸthaʸsetai. )

13:8 εκπιπτει ¦ πιπτει CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–13 Love endures forever

In this section Paul talked about the importance of love. He described how a person who loves will behave toward others. He concluded that love is more important than any of the spiritual gifts. One day all the spiritual gifts will cease, but love will never cease.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Love

Paul urged believers to act in love

The way of love

13:8a

Love never fails.

¶ Love lasts for all time.
¶ If we love other people, we will love them forever.

Love never fails: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as fails is literally “falls down.” This is an idiom which means that love does not end or stop.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Love never ends (NET)

Love endures forever

A person who loves other people loves them forever

A heart that loves will never fail

13:8b-d

Paul spoke about three spiritual gifts: prophecies, tongues, and knowledge. He said that these gifts are less important than love because they are temporary. They are intended for the present age, whereas love is for the future age as well.

13:8b

But where there are prophecies, they will cease;

But the spiritual gift of prophecy will be stopped.
God gives some people the gift of declaring his word, but in the future he will not give it any more.

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as But introduces a contrast. In 13:8a Paul said love will last forever. In 13:8b he contrasted that with the spiritual gifts which will not last forever.

where there are prophecies, they will cease: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as where there are prophecies is literally “if prophecies.” It implies that people were using the spiritual gift of prophecy.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there are prophecies, but they will end

on the topic of prophecies, they will end

people who prophesy, in the future they will not prophesy any more

prophecies: The Greek word is the same as in 11:4–5, 12:10b and 13:2 and you should translate it in the same way.

they will cease: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as they will cease is a passive verb and means “will be brought to an end.” See a similar form of the same verb in 1:28 and 2:6. The implied subject is God. God will no longer give people the gift of prophecy.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God will bring prophecies to an end

people who prophesy, in the future they will stop prophesying

13:8c

where there are tongues, they will be restrained;

The spiritual gift of tongues will be ended.
God gives some people the gift of speaking in tongues, but in the future he will not give it any more.

where there are tongues, they will be restrained: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as where there are tongues is literally “if tongues.” It implies that people were using the spiritual gift of tongues.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there are tongues, but they will end

on the topic of tongues, they will end

people who speak in tongues will stop

tongues: The Greek word is the same as in 12:10d and you should translate it in the same way.

they will be restrained: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as they will be restrained is a passive verb and means “they will be ended.” The implied subject is God. God will no longer give people the gift of tongues.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God will bring tongues to an end

people who speak in tongues, in the future they will stop

13:8d

where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.

The spiritual gift of knowledge will be stopped.
God gives some people the gift of knowing what he is doing, but in the future he will not give it any more.

where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as where there is knowledge is literally “if knowledge.” It implies that people were using the spiritual gift of knowledge.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there is the gift of knowledge, but it will end

on the topic of knowledge, it will end

people who have the gift of special knowledge will not have it any more

knowledge: In 12:8b Paul talked about this spiritual gift and called it a “word of knowledge.” God gave some believers a special ability to understand God and the things that he is doing.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the spiritual gift of knowledge

words that help people know about God

knowledge that God reveals to people

it will be dismissed: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as it will be dismissed is the same verb as in 13:8a. It is a passive verb, and the implied subject is God. God will no longer give people the spiritual gift of knowledge.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God will bring knowledge to an end

people who have the gift of knowledge, in the future they will not have it any more

General Comment on 13:8b-d

In this verse there are three verbs that the BSB translates as “cease,” “be restrained,” and “be dismissed.” In Greek the first and third verbs are the same. All three mean almost the same thing.Fee p. 644, footnote 17: “the change of verbs is purely rhetorical.” The BSB varied the words for reasons of good English style. In some languages it may be more natural to use the same word each time.

General Comment on 13:8a-d

In some languages it may be better to put 8a at the end of the verse. For example:

^8bProphecies will cease, ^8ctongues will stop, ^8dknowledge will cease, ^8abut love will never cease.

^8bGod causes people to speak for him, ^8che causes people to speak in unknown languages, ^8dhe gives people the gift of knowledge. These things will end, ^8abut love will never end.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει εἴτε Δέ προφητεῖαι καταργηθήσονται εἴτε γλῶσσαι παύσονται εἴτε γνῶσις καταργηθήσεται)

Here, just like in [13:4–7](../13/04.md), Paul speaks as if love were a person. Continue to follow the translation strategies you chose in those verses. Alternate translation: [If you love others, you will never stop doing so]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐδέποτε πίπτει

never ˓is˒_falling

Paul uses two negative words, never and fails, to indicate a positive meaning. If your language does not use two negative words like this, you can instead use a strong positive word. Alternate translation: [always keeps going] or [love always continues]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἴτε & προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται; εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται; εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται

whether & prophesies ˱they˲_˓will_be_being˒_nullified or tongues ˱they˲_˓will_be˒_ceasing or knowledge ˱it˲_˓will_be_being˒_nullified

Paul uses the conditional form to identify what he is speaking about. This form does not mean that Paul is unsure about whether prophecies, tongues, and knowledge currently exist. Rather, Paul uses this form to identify each one as the topic of the rest of the clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind Paul’s use of if hereby using a contrast word such as “although” or by simplifying the clauses so that they do not use if. Alternate translation: [although there are prophecies, they will pass away; although there are tongues, they will cease; although there is knowledge, it will pass away] or [prophecies will pass away; tongues will cease; knowledge will pass away]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

εἴτε & προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται; εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται; εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται.

whether & prophesies ˱they˲_˓will_be_being˒_nullified or tongues ˱they˲_˓will_be˒_ceasing or knowledge ˱it˲_˓will_be_being˒_nullified

Paul omits some words that may be required in your language to make a full sentence. If you need these words, you could supply a phrase such as “there are” or “there is.” Since English does need these words in the first clause, the ULT supplies them. You could supply them in just the first clause or in all of the clauses. Alternate translation: [if there are prophecies, they will pass away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will pass away]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

γλῶσσαι

tongues

Here, tongues refers to something that one does with one’s “tongue,” which is to speak a language. If it would be helpful in your language, you could indicate that tongues is a way of speaking about “languages” by using a comparable term or expressing the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [special languages]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

γλῶσσαι

tongues

Here, tongues has the same meaning it had in [12:10](../12/10.md), [28](../12/28.md), [30](../12/30.md); [13:1](../13/01.md). Translate it the same way you did in those verses.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται

knowledge ˱it˲_˓will_be_being˒_nullified

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind knowledge, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “know.” Alternate translation: [secret things that people know, they will pass away]

Parallel 1 COR 13:8

Section 13:1–13 Love endures forever

13:8a

13:8b-d

13:8b

13:8c

13:8d

General Comment on 13:8b-d

General Comment on 13:8a-d

Parallel 1 COR 13:8