1 Corinthians 11

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

Be imitators of me, in so far as I in turn am an imitator of Christ.

2 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.

Now I commend you for remembering me in everything, and because you hold fast truths and practices precisely as I have taught them to you.

3 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.

I would have you know, however, that of every man, Christ is the Head, that of a woman her husband is the Head, and that God is Christ's Head.

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

A man who wears a veil when praying or prophesying dishonors his Head;

5 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.

but a woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her Head, for it is exactly the same as if she had her hair cut short.

6 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.

If a woman will not wear a veil, let her also cut off her hair. But since it is a dishonor to a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her wear a veil.

7 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.

For a man ought not to have a veil on his head, since he is the image and glory of God; while woman is the glory of man.

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

Man does not take his origin from woman, but woman takes hers from man.

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

For man was not created for woman's sake, but woman for man's.

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

That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels.

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

Yet, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man independent of woman.

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

For just as woman originates from man, so also man comes into existence through woman, but everything springs originally from God.

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

Judge of this for your own selves: is it seemly for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled?

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

Does not Nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him,

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

but that if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because her hair was given her for a covering?

16 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.

But if any one is inclined to be contentious on the point, we have no such custom, nor have the Churches of God.

17 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.

But while giving you these instructions, there is one thing I cannot praise--your meeting together, with bad rather than good results.

18 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.

for, in the first place, when you meet as a Church, there are divisions among you. This is what I am told, and I believe that there is some truth in it.

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

For there must of necessity be differences of opinion among you, in order that it may be plainly seen who are the men of sterling worth among you.

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

When, however, you meet in one place, there is no eating the Supper of the Lord;

21 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.

for it is his own supper of which each of you is in a hurry to partake, and one eats like a hungry man, while another has already drunk to excess.

22 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.

Why, have you no homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you wish to show your contempt for the Church of God and make those who have no homes feel ashamed? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I certainly do not praise you.

23 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,

For it was from the Lord that I received the facts which, in turn, I handed on to you; how that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was to be betrayed, took some bread,

24 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.

and after giving thanks He broke it and said, "This is my body which is about to be broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

25 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.

In the same way, when the meal was over, He also took the cup. "This cup," He said, "is the new Covenant of which my blood is the pledge. Do this, every time that you drink it, in memory of me."

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

For every time that you eat this bread and drink from the cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death--until He returns.

27 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.

Whoever, therefore, in an unworthy manner, eats the bread or drinks from the cup of the Lord sins against the body and blood of the Lord.

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

But let a man examine himself, and, having done that, then let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.

29 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.

For any one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself, if he fails to estimate the body aright.

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

That is why many among you are sickly and out of health, and why not a few die.

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

If, however, we estimated ourselves aright, we should not be judged.

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

But when we are judged by the Lord, chastisement follows, to save us from being condemned along with the world.

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

Therefore, brethren, when you come together for this meal, wait for one another.

34 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.

If any one is hungry, let him eat at home; so that your coming together may not lead to judgement. The other matters I will deal with whenever I come.