1 Corinthians 11

Holman Christian Standard Bible

11 ¹ Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.^(A)

Instructions about Head Coverings

² Now I praise you^[a] because you always remember me and keep the traditions^(B) just as I delivered^(C) them to you. ³ But I want you to know that Christ is the head^(D) of every man, and the man is the head of the woman,^[b](E) and God is the head of Christ.^{(F) 4} Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors^(G) his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.^{(H) 6} So if a woman’s head^[c] is not covered, her hair should be cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.

⁷ A man, in fact, should not cover his head, because he is God’s image^(I) and glory,^(J) but woman is man’s glory. ⁸ For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.^{(K) 9} And man was not created for woman, but woman for man. ¹⁰ This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman. ¹² For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.^(L)

¹³ Judge^(M) for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach^(N) you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace^(O) to him, ¹⁵ but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?^(P) For her hair is given to her^[d] as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other^[e] custom, nor do the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ There must, indeed, be factions^(Q) among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you. ²⁰ Therefore, when you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s Supper.^{(R) 21} For at the meal, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! ²² Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:^(S) On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, ²⁴ gave thanks, broke it, and said,^[f] “This is My body, which is^[g] for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”^(T)

²⁵ In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant^(U) established by My blood.^(V) Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death^(W) until He comes.^(X)

Self-Examination

²⁷ Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body^[h] and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,^[i] eats and drinks judgment^(Y) on himself. ³⁰ This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.^{(Z) 31} If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged, ³² but when we are judged,^(AA) we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned^(AB) with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.^(AC)