1 Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV Printable, Charity Suffereth Long, Love Is Patient

Paul's description of love is printed here in full, from verse 4 to verse 7, in the King James wording that begins "Charity suffereth long, and is kind." Each verse gets its own short stanza of centered Cormorant in a deep brown-black, set on a warm ivory paper texture with the reference in small capitals at the foot. The four stanzas fill the middle of the sheet and leave a wide margin all around. The download covers the 2:3, 3:4, 4:5 and 11:14 ratios.

Why the King James Version says charity

Modern Bibles start this passage with love is patient. The King James translators of 1611 chose charity for the Greek word agape, following the Latin caritas, and in their English charity meant love in its highest sense, the kind that gives without looking for a return. The passage then lists fifteen things this love does or refuses to do. It suffereth long and is kind, it envieth not and vaunteth not itself, it is not easily provoked and thinketh no evil, and it closes with four short clauses: beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Four stanzas, one for each verse

A long passage needs a clear shape on the wall. Here verse 4 forms the first stanza, verse 5 the second, verse 6 the short third and verse 7 the fourth, each one centered with a little space between them so the eye can rest. The type is Cormorant in a deep brown-black on the warm ivory texture. The reference, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, sits beneath in small capitals. There is no ornament or illustration, so the design suits a bedroom or living room in almost any style. It is the same artwork that appears in the Marriage Bible Verse Set of 3, offered here as a single.

Files, sizes and printing

You download five files: four JPGs at maximum JPEG quality and a four-page PDF made from the same original images without extra JPEG compression. Each ratio was typeset separately. The 2:3 file is 4800 x 7200 pixels and prints up to 16x24 inches, the 3:4 file is 4500 x 6000 for 15x20, the 4:5 file is 4800 x 6000 for 16x20, and the 11:14 file is 3300 x 4200 for 11x14, all at 300 DPI. The PDF has one page at each of those sizes. Choose matte white paper or cardstock, turn crop-to-fill off, and scale proportionally in the same ratio for smaller frames.

Weddings, anniversaries and everyday love

1 Corinthians 13 is a familiar wedding reading, and a framed copy of it is a natural first piece for a newly shared home. It also marks an anniversary well, particularly for a couple who heard it read at their wedding years ago. Away from weddings, the passage works as a daily reminder in a family room or kitchen, where patience and kindness get tested every day. For Valentine's Day it can go into a frame next to the card. It also suits a quiet corner where a couple reads or prays together, framed small on a shelf or a nightstand.

Sizes and formats

Frequently asked questions

Why does this passage say charity and not love?

In 1611 English, charity meant love in its fullest sense, and the King James translators used it for the Greek agape in this chapter. Modern translations write love. The meaning is the same, and some couples choose the King James text for exactly that older word.

Is the whole passage printed, from verse 4 to verse 7?

Yes. All four verses appear in the complete King James wording, from Charity suffereth long, and is kind to endureth all things. Each verse forms its own stanza, so the passage is easy to follow when you read it on the wall, and the reference 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 sits beneath in small capitals.

How large should I print a passage this long?

Four stanzas carry more text than a single verse, so the type is smaller at any given frame size. For reading from a few steps away, 16x20 or 16x24 is comfortable. An 11x14 suits a dresser or a shelf where people stand close, and smaller prints work best as gifts on a desk.

Can I get this verse together with Matthew 19:6 and Ecclesiastes 4:12?

Yes. The same artwork is part of the Marriage Bible Verse Set of 3, which adds Matthew 19:6 and Ecclesiastes 4:12 in the matching ivory and brown-black design. Choose the set for a row of three frames above a bed or sofa, or this single print if one passage is enough.

Will the ivory background print correctly on white paper?

Yes. The ivory tone and the paper texture are part of the image, so a plain matte white paper or cardstock reproduces them. Avoid tinted or cream paper, which would warm the color a second time. Turn off crop-to-fill so the margins stay even, and keep the file's ratio when you scale it.