1 Corinthians 11

1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.

[Follow my example], just like I [try to] follow Christ’s example.

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered [them] to you.

I praise you because you remember all the things [that I taught you] and because you follow the instructions that I gave you. You have done just like I told you to do.

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

[Now], I want you to know that the one who has authority over [MTY] every man is Christ, and the ones who have authority over women are men (OR, their husbands), and the one who has authority over Christ is God.

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head.

[So] if any man [wears a covering over] his head when he prays or speaks a message God gave him, he disgraces himself [SYN].

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Also, if any woman does not wear a covering over her head when she prays or speaks a message that God gave her, she disgraces herself (OR, she dishonors her husband). That would be acting like [SIM] [women who are ashamed because] their heads have been shaved.

6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

So, if women do not wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them], they should let someone shave their heads [so that they will be ashamed]. But since women are ashamed if someone cuts their hair [short] or shaves off their hair, they should wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them].

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Men should not wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them], because they represent what God is like [MET] and they show how great God is. But women show how great men (OR, their husbands) are.

8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

[Remember that God intends that men have authority over women. We know that] because [God] did not make [the first] man, [Adam], from the [first] woman, [Eve]. Instead, he made that woman [from a bone that he took] from the man.

9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

Also, [God] did not create [the first] man [to help] the woman. Instead, [he] created the woman [to help] the man.

10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on [her] head because of the angels.

For that reason, women should wear something [to cover] their heads [as a symbol of their being under their husbands’] [MTY] authority. They should also [cover their heads] so that the angels [will see that and rejoice].

11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

However, remember that [even though God created the first] woman from [the first] man, all other men [have been born] from women. So men cannot be independent of women, nor can women be independent of men. But all things, [including men and women], come from God.

12 For as the woman [is] of the man, even so [is] the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

Consider this for yourselves: Is it proper for [RHQ] women to pray to God while they do not have coverings over their heads?

14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

(Everyone senses that it is disgraceful for men to have long hair./Doesn’t everyone sense that it is disgraceful for men to have long hair?) [RHQ]

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.

But it is very delightful if women have long hair, because [God] gave them long hair to be like a [beautiful] covering [for their heads].

16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

But whoever wants to argue [with me about my saying that women should have a covering over their heads when they pray or speak a message from God should consider the fact that] we [apostles] do not [permit] any other custom, and the [other] congregations of God do not have any other custom.

17 Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise [you] not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

Now I want to tell you [about some other things]. I do not praise you about them, because whenever you believers meet together, good [things do not happen]. Instead, bad things [happen].

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

First of all, people have told me that when you gather together as a group [to worship God], you divide into groups [that are hostile to each other]. To some extent I believe that is true.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

It seems that you must divide into [groups that despise each other] in order that it might be clear/evident which people among you [God] approves of!

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

When you gather together, you [IRO] eat the meal [that you say is to remember the death of] the Lord [Jesus for us].

21 For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

But [what happens when] you eat is that each person eats his own meal before [he thinks about sharing his food with anyone else]. As a result, [when the meal is over], some people are [still] hungry and others are drunk! [So it is not a meal that honors the Lord].

22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not.

([You act as though] you do not have your own houses in which you can eat and drink [whatever you want to]!/Do you not have your own houses in which you can eat and drink [whatever you want to]?) [RHQ] Do you not realize [RHQ] [that by acting selfishly in this way], it is God’s people whom you are despising, and it is the poor people [in your group] whom you are treating as though they were not important? What shall I say to you about that [RHQ]? Do [you expect] me to praise you [about what you do] [RHQ]? I certainly will not praise you!

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:

The Lord taught me these things that I also taught you: During the night that Jesus was betrayed {[Judas] enabled [the enemies of] the Lord Jesus to seize him}, he took some bread.

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After he thanked God for it, he broke it into pieces. [Then he gave it to his disciples] and said, “This bread [represents] [MET] (OR, is) my body, that [I am about to sacrifice] for you. Eat bread in this [way again and again] to remember my [offering myself as a sacrifice for you].”

25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me.

Similarly, after they ate their meal, he took a cup [MTY] [of wine]. He [thanked God for it. Then he gave it to his disciples], saying, “[The wine in] [MTY] this cup [represents] [MET] (OR, is) my blood [that will flow from my body] ([to put into effect/to establish]) the new agreement [that God is making with people]. Whenever you drink wine in this way, do it to remember that [my blood flowed for you].”

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

[Remember that] until the Lord [Jesus] returns [to the earth], whenever you eat the [bread that represents his body] and drink the wine [MTY] [that represents his blood], you are telling other people that he died [for you].

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

So, those who eat that bread and drink that wine [MTY] in a way that is not proper [for those who belong to the Lord] are guilty of [acting in a way that is contrary to what] our [Lord intended when he offered] his body [as a sacrifice] and his blood [flowed when he died].

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.

Before any believer eats that bread and drinks that wine [MTY], he should think carefully about [what he is doing],

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

because if anyone eats [the bread that represents Christ’s body] and drinks [the wine that represents his blood] without recognizing that all God’s [people should be united, God will] punish him [for doing that].

30 For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Many people in your group are weak and sick, and several have died [EUP] because of [the way they acted when they ate that bread and drank that wine].

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

If we would think carefully about what we [are doing], [God] would not judge [and punish] us [like that].

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

But when the Lord judges [and punishes] us [for acting wrongly], he disciplines us [to correct us], in order that he will not [need to] punish us when he punishes [the people who do not trust in Christ] [MTY].

33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

So, my fellow believers, when you gather together to eat [food to remember the Lord’s dying for you], wait until everyone [has arrived so that you can find out who does not have enough food].

34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Those who are so hungry [that they cannot wait to eat until everyone else has arrived] should eat in their own homes [first], in order that when you gather together God will not judge [and punish them for] ([being inconsiderate of/not being concerned about]) [others]. And when I come [to Corinth] I will give you instructions about other matters [concerning the Lord’s Supper].