25 Bible Passages About Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV

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. 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. 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.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV

Paul imagines the most impressive spiritual life possible: speaking in the tongues of men and of angels, understanding every mystery, faith that moves mountains, giving everything away. Without love, he says, it is noise and amounts to nothing. The chapter belongs to his long discussion of spiritual gifts in this letter, written to a church proud of its gifts. The KJV says charity here, an older word for the same love. Ability and sacrifice are not the measure; love is.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV

Often read at weddings, these lines were written to a church troubled by jealousy and rivalry, which makes them sharper than they sound. Each description is something love does or refuses to do: patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not insisting on its own way, not resentful. It bears, believes, hopes and endures all things. The phrase about enduring describes love's staying power; it has never been a reason to stay where you are being harmed.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:7-12 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:7-12 KJV

John grounds the command to love one another in where love comes from: it is from God, because God is love. The proof he offers is not a feeling but an act, God sending his Son so that we might live through him. Then a striking line: no one has ever seen God, yet when we love one another, God abides in us. Read that way, ordinary love between people is one of the places God becomes visible.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:16-19 ESV

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:16-19 KJV

John says there is no fear in love, and that perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. For anyone who relates to God mainly by bracing for disapproval, that is a direct word. The love here does not begin with us either: we love because he first loved us. Many women give love constantly and receive it warily. This passage puts receiving first.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:8-10 ESV

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:8-10 KJV

Paul tells the church in Rome to leave no debt outstanding except the one that is never paid off: the debt to love one another. He gathers several commandments into a single line, love your neighbour as yourself, and says love does no wrong to a neighbour. Love here is not vague warmth. It is called the fulfilling of the law, which makes it the point of the commands rather than an escape from them.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17 ESV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:16-17 KJV

One of the best-known verses in the Bible, and worth reading with the sentence that goes with it. God's love is aimed at the world, not a tidy few, and it is measured by what it gave: his only Son. Then the passage says the Son was not sent to condemn the world but so that the world might be saved through him. If you have heard this mostly as a warning, that second sentence changes the tone.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8 ESV

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8 KJV

Paul makes a plain comparison. Someone might perhaps dare to die for a good person, though even that is rare. But God shows his love in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The love is not a reward for improvement. It arrived at the worst point, aimed at people Paul calls weak and ungodly. If you suspect God's love is waiting for you to become lovable, this passage says it did not wait.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39 KJV

Paul lists what might pull a person away from Christ's love: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, danger, sword. He does not pretend these never come; he quotes a psalm about being counted as sheep for the slaughter. Then he widens the list to death and life, angels and rulers, things present and things to come, and anything else in all creation. None of it, he says, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19 KJV

This is Paul praying, not instructing. He bows his knees and asks that his readers be rooted and grounded in love, and that they have strength to grasp its breadth and length and height and depth. Then the paradox: to know a love that surpasses knowledge. It is not something anyone finishes understanding. The prayer suggests that taking in God's love takes strength, which is worth remembering on days it feels hard to believe.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

Psalm 103:8-13 ESV

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalm 103:8-13 KJV

The psalmist calls God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, then reaches for the biggest distances he knows. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is that love; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions. He adds a closer picture too: the compassion of a father toward his children. Love here is measured by mercy, not by mood.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 KJV

Spoken to Jerusalem in a book that carries heavy words of judgment, this verse pictures God in the midst of his people, mighty to save, rejoicing over them with gladness and singing. The ESV says he will quiet you by his love; the KJV says he will rest in his love. Either way, God is not merely tolerating his people. He delights in them aloud, which for some readers is harder to believe than any warning.

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:20-24 ESV

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Luke 15:20-24 KJV

Jesus tells of a son who has wasted his inheritance and comes home with a rehearsed apology. While he is still a long way off, the father sees him, feels compassion, runs and embraces him. The son begins his speech, and the father calls for a robe, a ring, sandals and a feast. Jesus told it to people grumbling that he welcomed sinners. It is a picture of love that runs toward someone before they have finished explaining.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:36-40 KJV

Asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus answers with two, drawn from Deuteronomy and Leviticus: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself. He says all the Law and the Prophets depend on them. Love of God and love of people are not rivals competing for your attention; in his answer they belong together. One reading of the words as yourself is that they assume some care for yourself, not its absence.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35 ESV

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:34-35 KJV

At supper with his disciples, in the same chapter where he washes their feet, Jesus gives a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. The standard shifts from loving others as you love yourself to loving as he loved them, with a towel and a basin. And he names the evidence: people will know his followers by their love for one another, not by how well they argue.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:9-13 ESV

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:9-13 KJV

Jesus describes a chain of love: as the Father has loved him, so he has loved his disciples, and they are to abide in that love. He ties it to joy, his joy in them, so that their joy may be full. Then he gives the measure: no greater love than laying down one's life for one's friends. In this same conversation he calls his disciples friends, a remarkable word for a teacher to use of his followers.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48 KJV

Jesus takes love past the boundary most people draw: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. His reason is how the Father acts, sending sun and rain on the evil and the good alike. Loving those who love you, he points out, is something even tax collectors do. For many readers this is the hardest teaching on love in the Gospels, and it starts with something concrete: a prayer for the other person.

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Luke 10:30-37 ESV

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke 10:30-37 KJV

A lawyer asks Jesus who counts as his neighbour, and Jesus answers with a story. A man is beaten and left on the road; a priest and a Levite pass by on the other side. A Samaritan, an outsider to the lawyer's own people, stops, binds his wounds, and pays for his care at an inn. Jesus turns the question around: who proved to be a neighbour? The one who showed mercy. Go and do likewise.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13 ESV

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13 KJV

Let love be genuine, Paul writes; the KJV says without dissimulation, meaning without pretence. With it comes a run of practical habits: hold fast to what is good, love one another with family affection, try to outdo each other in showing honour, rejoice in hope, keep praying, share with those in need, practise hospitality. Love here is not an atmosphere. It is a set of things a person does on an ordinary Tuesday.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Colossians 3:12-14 KJV

These instructions are given to people already called God's chosen ones, holy and beloved; they are not how anyone earns those names. Paul describes clothing to put on: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving as the Lord forgave. Over all of it goes love, which the ESV says binds everything together in perfect harmony and the KJV calls the bond of perfectness. Love holds the other virtues in place.

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 ESV

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 KJV

John defines love by an event: Christ laid down his life for us. Then he brings it down to something very ordinary, having enough of this world's goods and seeing a brother or sister in need. If someone closes their heart to that, he asks, how does God's love abide in them? Love is not only in word or talk but in deed and truth. Sometimes the most loving prayer is followed by a meal or a transfer.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 ESV

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV

Peter sets this above other things: keep loving one another earnestly, because love covers a multitude of sins. In a close community people rub against each other constantly, and read in that setting, love chooses not to make every offence into a case. Covering is not concealing harm, and this verse has never required silence about abuse. It is the ordinary grace that lets small wrongs go so a friendship or household can keep breathing.

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3 ESV

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3 KJV

Paul links love with humility, gentleness and patience, and describes it as bearing with one another. That is an honest phrase: it assumes the people you love will sometimes be hard to bear. Alongside it comes an eagerness to keep the unity the Spirit gives, in the bond of peace. Love in a church, a family or a friendship is often less dramatic than a grand sacrifice, and more like patience repeated every day.

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Ruth 1:16-17 ESV

And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth 1:16-17 KJV

After famine and the deaths of her husband and both sons, Naomi urges her widowed daughters-in-law to return to their own families. Ruth refuses: where you go I will go, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. These words are often used between spouses, but they were spoken by a woman to her mother-in-law. It is loyal love, chosen when Naomi herself was urging her to leave.

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

1 Samuel 18:1-4 ESV

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

1 Samuel 18:1-4 KJV

After David's victory over Goliath, Jonathan, the son of King Saul, is said to love David as his own soul. He makes a covenant with him and strips off his own robe to give it to David, along with his sword, his bow and his belt, a gesture many readers take as setting aside his own standing. Friendship in Scripture is not a lesser love. For many people this is one of the clearest pictures of devoted friendship the Bible offers.

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 ESV

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 KJV

The voice in this poem asks to be set like a seal upon the beloved's heart, and calls love as strong as death. Many waters cannot quench it, nor floods drown it, and anyone who offered all the wealth of a house for love would be scorned. The Song speaks frankly of love between a man and a woman. Whatever your own situation, it insists that love is not a commodity and cannot be bought.