1 Corinthians 13

Which worship songs are based on 1 Corinthians 13?

If I Don't Have Love — Leeland, Lauren Sloat (2023) 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
The song closely adapts Paul’s description of love as patient, kind, humble, hopeful, enduring, and unfailing. Its chorus also follows Paul’s warning that tongues, prophecy, extraordinary faith, generosity, and bodily sacrifice amount to nothing without love.
Menorah — Jackie Hill Perry & nobigdyl. (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:1
The pairing of loveless zeal with a noisy gong and clanging cymbal directly invokes Paul’s warning that impressive spiritual speech is empty without love.
1 Coríntios 13 — Aline Barros (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
The song closely follows Paul's contrast between extraordinary speech, prophecy, faith, generosity, and sacrifice on one hand, and their worthlessness without love on the other. It also paraphrases his description of love as patient, enduring, and grounded in truth.
This House — Anne Wilson (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
The second verse closely restates Paul’s warning that impressive speech and even giving away everything amount to nothing when love is absent. Its contrast between visible religious action and loveless emptiness is especially specific to this passage.
Got the Love — Brandon Heath (2017) 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
The bridge closely reflects Paul's teaching that extraordinary abilities, achievements, and possessions amount to nothing when love is absent.
Heaven's Shore (Forevermore) — Jeremy Camp (2017) 1 Corinthians 13:1
The description of joining angelic expression in worship draws on Paul's distinctive reference to the speech of angels, though the song applies that phrase to heavenly singing.
Nothing / Something (live) — Pat Barrett (2021) 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
The song closely follows Paul's argument that impressive spiritual speech, gifts, and achievements are worthless without love. Its cymbal imagery directly invokes Paul's description of loveless speech as mere noise.
Righteous Rocker #1 — Kevin Max (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
The refrain restates Paul's judgment that extraordinary abilities, prophetic gifts, and sacrificial religious acts amount to nothing when love is absent. The song's reference to being a prophet makes the dependence on this passage especially clear.
Stand my Ground — Carrollton (2017) 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
The opening verse closely follows Paul's argument that eloquent speech and mountain-moving faith are worthless when they are exercised without love.
Not By Might, Not By Power — Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:1
The description of impressive speech becoming empty, clanging noise unmistakably invokes Paul’s image of eloquence without love. The song adapts the image by emphasizing the absence of the Spirit of Jesus.
The Way of Love — Tenielle Neda (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:2
The repeated assertion that without love one is nothing echoes the sentiment found in 1 Corinthians 13:2, emphasizing the fundamental importance of love in life.
Waiting Here For You - Live — Hillsong Worship, Jad Gillies (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:2
The opening appeal closely echoes Paul’s description of possessing faith capable of moving mountains. The distinctive wording points more directly to this verse than to the related mountain-moving sayings in the Gospels.
That’s What We Need — Anne Wilson (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:2
The second verse contrasts mountain-moving faith with genuine love, closely following Paul’s teaching that extraordinary faith is worthless when separated from love.
Faith, Hope, & Love — Josh Garrels (2019) 1 Corinthians 13:2
The song combines Paul’s mountain-moving faith, love’s readiness to believe, and the concluding triad of faith, hope, and love. Its repeated emphasis on love as the enduring and supreme virtue especially reflects the chapter’s final verse.
Open Space (feat. Kirby Kaple) — Housefires (2023) 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The opening description of patient, kind, and non-scorekeeping love directly draws from Paul’s defining portrait of love in this passage.
wannabe — Danny Gokey (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The description of divine love as patient and kind directly adopts the opening attributes in Paul’s definition of love.
No Conditions — Hannah Kerr (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The song directly adopts Paul's description of love as patient, kind, forgiving, persevering, trusting, hopeful, and enduring.
That’s Enough — Brandon Heath (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The bridge groups patience and kindness with love, closely echoing Paul’s description of love as patient and kind.
Has anyone ever left you high and dry? — ELEVATION RHYTHM, Ryan Ellis (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The song directly adopts Paul’s description of love as patient and kind, then echoes his teaching that love perseveres rather than giving up.
Good Love — Chris McClarney (2021) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The verses closely recast Paul’s description of love as patient, unselfish, slow to anger, free from envy, unwilling to keep account of wrongdoing, and enduring through every circumstance.
I Love You (Always) — Paul Baloche (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The opening description of God closely echoes Paul’s characterization of love as patient and kind, applying those qualities directly to God’s unchanging nature.
Never Known — Seph Schlueter (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The bridge directly adopts Paul’s opening description of love’s character, applying its qualities to the steadfast divine love celebrated throughout the song.
I Want To Thank You — Kelly Price (2021) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The song directly invokes Paul’s description of love through the paired qualities of patience and kindness.
Lean Back (feat. Amanda Lindsey Cook & Chandler Moore) — Chandler Moore & Amanda Cook & Maverick City Music (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The song directly adopts Paul’s description of love as characterized by patience and kindness, applying those qualities to God’s love.
Mad — Travis Greene & Jonathan McReynolds (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The bridge directly draws on Paul’s description of love as patient, kind, slow to anger, and unwilling to keep an account of wrongdoing.
She Loves Jesus — Chase Matthew (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The narrator directly invokes the opening description of love in Paul’s teaching, applying its emphasis on patience to the woman’s willingness to love an imperfect partner.
Who I Thought You Were — Olivia Lane (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The paired description of God as patient and kind closely follows Paul's opening description of love and supports the song's revised understanding of God's character.
What the Hard Times Taught Me — Jason Gray (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The song directly uses Paul's description of love as kind, personifying Love as the restoring force that brings fractured people toward wholeness.
What Love Looks Like — Elle Limebear (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The description of divine love as consistently patient and kind closely restates the opening qualities in Paul’s definition of love.
The Prayer — Andrea Bocelli & Helene Fischer (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The request that love exhibit kindness closely echoes Paul's opening description of love in his discourse on its character.
Love God Love People — Danny Gokey (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The bridge directly reproduces Paul’s opening descriptions of love in his extended teaching on love’s character and supremacy.
His Love — The Clark Sisters & Snoop Dogg (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Karen's description of love reproduces Paul's sequence of qualities: patience, kindness, freedom from envy and boasting, humility, and lack of self-interest.
He Makes Me Well — Allie Paige (2018) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The song directly applies Paul’s paired description of love as patient and kind to Jesus’ character.
Love People — Chris Tomlin (2021) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The bridge and outro directly draw on Paul's description of love's patience, kindness, and permanence, then invoke his triad of faith, hope, and love with love identified as supreme.
Never Have I Ever (acoustic) — Hillsong Young & Free (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:4
The bridge directly applies Paul’s description of love’s patience and kindness to God’s character.
Love Don't — 11th Hour (2019) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The song repeatedly adopts Paul’s defining qualities of love, including patience, kindness, humility, restrained anger, forgiveness, perseverance, hope, belief, and unfailing endurance.
What A Love — John Mark Pantana (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:5
The description of Jesus not maintaining an account of the singer’s offenses closely paraphrases Paul’s characterization of love as not keeping a record of wrongs.
This Is How I Thank The Lord — Mosaic MSC (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
The description of God removing the accounting of wrongdoing and responding with charitable trust closely echoes Paul’s portrayal of love as not keeping an account of wrongs and always trusting and hoping.
This Is How I Thank The Lord - Live — Mosaic MSC (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
The description of God retaining no account of wrongdoing and believing the best closely follows Paul's description of love as neither recording wrongs nor ceasing to believe.
Forever / Beautiful Grace — Kirk Franklin (2019) 1 Corinthians 13:5
The singer directly adopts Paul’s description of love as not maintaining an account of offenses, contrasting Christ’s forgiveness with his own persistent self-condemnation.
Close — Switch (2019) 1 Corinthians 13:5
The pre-chorus and chorus closely reproduce Paul’s description of love as refusing to count wrongs, continuing in faith, and never failing.
Safe in Your Arms — Josh Baldwin, kalley (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:5
The description of God as not maintaining an account of failures closely paraphrases Paul's statement that love does not keep a record of wrongs.
What Kind Of Love — Amy Grant (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:7
The chorus directly adopts two clauses from Paul's description of love, presenting love as persistently hopeful and believing.
The One You Love — Elevation Worship (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:8
The bridge repeatedly uses Paul's concise declaration about love's enduring character, applying it specifically to God's love for the worshipper.
When It Was Over — Sara Groves (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:8
The bridge directly invokes Paul’s declaration about love’s unfailing character and applies it to enduring relational commitment.
Why It Matters — Sara Groves (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:8
The description of unfailing love directly invokes Paul's declaration about love's enduring character.
Show Up Choose Love — tobyMac & Jon Reddick (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:8
The bridge applies Paul’s declaration about love’s unfailing character specifically to God, presenting divine love as the basis for steadfast human love.
Duele el Amor — Alex Campos (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:8
The repeated assertion that divine love does not end closely paraphrases Paul's declaration that love never fails or ceases. The surrounding contrast between enduring love, emotion, and eloquent speech further supports the connection to 1 Corinthians 13.
Prophesy Your Promise — Bryan & Katie Torwalt (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:9-12
The chorus adopts Paul's description of present knowledge and perception as incomplete, making limited understanding the setting for continued faith.
Glimmer in the Dust — Hillsong UNITED (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:9-13
The chorus closely follows Paul's contrast between present partial perception and future face-to-face knowledge, then joins faith, hope, and the supremacy of love. The bridge further reflects the passage's teaching that love remains when temporary things pass away.
Friend — Tasha Cobbs Leonard (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:11
The decision to leave childish ways behind while growing older closely echoes Paul's description of maturity as putting away the things of childhood.
Worth the Wait — Terrian (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:11
The repeated description of abandoning childish ways closely paraphrases Paul's illustration of spiritual maturity as putting childhood behind oneself.
Touching God (feat. Yebba & Blood Orange) — Blood Orange & Daniel Caesar & YEBBA (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:11
The bridge directly adopts Paul's contrast between childhood speech and thought and the maturity of adulthood.
Walking in Daylight — Cosmic Cathedral (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The lyrics reference seeing 'through a glass darkly' which directly quotes the biblical passage about the limitations of human understanding and the promise of clarity in the future.
Keep On Keeping On — Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2021) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The expectation that present uncertainty will give way to fuller understanding in a future face-to-face encounter closely echoes Paul's contrast between partial knowledge now and complete knowledge then.
Forever — Brian Courtney Wilson (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The song joins present incomprehension with the future hope of directly seeing God and understanding fully, closely following Paul’s contrast between partial knowledge now and complete knowledge in the coming encounter.
This Side Of Heaven — Seph Schlueter (2025) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The anticipated transition from present struggle to seeing God directly evokes Paul's contrast between incomplete perception now and face-to-face knowledge in the age to come.
Come Jesus Come — CeCe Winans (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The expectation that believers will one day encounter Christ face to face reflects Paul’s contrast between present partial knowledge and future complete vision.
All I Want - Live — Gateway Worship (2023) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The recurring desire for an unmediated encounter with God uses Paul's language for the future completion of partial knowledge. The final verse's focus on life after death confirms the eschatological sense.
Hands Up — MercyMe (2022) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The bridge echoes Paul’s contrast between present, partial perception and the future clarity and fuller knowledge believers will experience in God’s presence.
All That Remains — Christine D'Clario (2021) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The anticipated transition from waiting to direct, face-to-face sight echoes Paul's contrast between present partial perception and future full knowledge.
A Million Years — Paul Baloche (2020) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The anticipated transition from present belief and incomplete understanding to direct sight closely reflects Paul's contrast between partial knowledge now and knowing fully in the future.
Face to Face — Hillsong Young & Free (2016) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The anticipated transition from present distance to directly seeing Christ closely paraphrases Paul’s contrast between incomplete present perception and future face-to-face sight.
When We See Your Face - Live — Sovereign Grace Music (2017) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The repeated expectation of seeing Christ directly and then knowing with unprecedented fullness closely follows Paul's contrast between present partial knowledge and future face-to-face knowledge.
Give Me Jesus - Live — Sovereign Grace Music (2017) 1 Corinthians 13:12
The expectation of clearer future vision and direct encounter closely reproduces Paul's contrast between present partial sight and knowing fully in the age to come.
Revolution — Skillet (2024) 1 Corinthians 13:13
The bridge presents faith, hope, and love together and in the same order as Paul's enduring threefold virtues. It adapts the biblical triad into the foundation for the song's envisioned movement.
Faith Hope Love — We Are Messengers (2026) 1 Corinthians 13:13
The song directly quotes the concept that faith, hope, and love are the enduring virtues that remain, echoing the message found in 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Faith Hope Love Repeat — Brandon Heath (2017) 1 Corinthians 13:13
The refrain adopts Paul’s triad of faith, hope, and love. The bridge further reflects Paul’s ordering by presenting love as the indispensable virtue when faith and hope falter.

1 Corinthians 13 (King James Version)

¹ 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.

² 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.

³ 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.

⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ 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.

⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

¹³ And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.