Charity is to be preferred before all gifts.

 1 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  4 Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up;  5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;

 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth;  7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  8 Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed.  9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.  12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known.  13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.