1 Corinthians 11

1 You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

So take me for your example, even as I take Christ for mine.

2 Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.

Now I am pleased to see that you keep me in memory in all things, and that you give attention to the teaching which was handed down from me to you.

3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

But it is important for you to keep this fact in mind, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head.

5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.

But every woman who does so with her head unveiled, puts shame on her head: for it is the same as if her hair was cut off.

6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off; but if it is a shame to a woman to have her hair cut off, let her be veiled.

7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

For it is not right for a man to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.

For the man did not come from the woman, but the woman from the man.

9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

And the man was not made for the woman, but the woman for the man.

10 For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

For this reason it is right for the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

But the woman is not separate from the man, and the man is not separate from the woman in the Lord.

12 For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

For as the woman is from the man, so the man is through the woman; but all things are from God.

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Be judges yourselves of the question: does it seem right for a woman to take part in prayer unveiled?

14 Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,

Does it not seem natural to you that if a man has long hair, it is a cause of shame to him?

15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given to her for a covering.

16 If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

But if any man will not be ruled in this question, this is not our way of doing things, and it is not done in the churches of God.

17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good.

But in giving you this order, there is one thing about which I am not pleased: it is that when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

18 First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

For first of all, it has come to my ears that when you come together in the church, there are divisions among you, and I take the statement to be true in part.

19 And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.

For divisions are necessary among you, in order that those who have God's approval may be clearly seen among you.

20 Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.

But now, when you come together, it is not possible to take the holy meal of the Lord:

21 For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

For when you take your food, everyone takes his meal before the other; and one has not enough food, and another is the worse for drink.

22 Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!

What? have you not houses to take your meals in? or have you no respect for the church of God, putting the poor to shame? What am I to say to you? am I to give you praise? certainly not.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,

For it was handed down to me from the Lord, as I gave it to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when Judas was false to him, took bread,

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

And when it had been broken with an act of praise, he said, This is my body which is for you: do this in memory of me.

25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way, with the cup, after the meal, he said, This cup is the new testament in my blood: do this, whenever you take it, in memory of me.

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

For whenever you take the bread and the cup you give witness to the Lord's death till he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

If, then, anyone takes the bread or the cup of the Lord in the wrong spirit, he will be responsible for the body and blood of the Lord.

28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself.

29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

For a man puts himself in danger, if he takes part in the holy meal without being conscious that it is the Lord's body.

30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

For this cause a number of you are feeble and ill, and a number are dead.

31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.

But if we were true judges of ourselves, punishment would not come on us.

32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

But if punishment does come, it is sent by the Lord, so that we may be safe when the world is judged.

33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to the holy meal of the Lord, let there be waiting for one another.

34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.

If any man is in need of food, let him take his meal in his house; so that you may not come together to your damage. And the rest I will put in order when I come.