The First to the Corinthians
11 Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ.+
2 Now I commend YOU because in all things YOU have me in mind and YOU are holding fast the traditions+ just as I handed [them] on to YOU. 3 But I want YOU to know that the head of every man is the Christ;+ in turn the head of a woman is the man;+ in turn the head of the Christ is God.+ 4 Every man that prays or prophesies having something on his head shames his head;+ 5 but every woman that prays or prophesies+ with her head uncovered* shames her head,+ for it is one and the same as if she were a [woman] with a shaved head.*+ 6 For if a woman does not cover herself, let her also be shorn; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaved,+ let her be covered.+
7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, as he is God’s image+ and glory;+ but the woman is man’s glory.+ 8 For man is not out of* woman, but woman out of* man;+ 9 and, what is more, man was not created for the sake of the woman, but woman for the sake of the man.+ 10 That is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority* upon her head+ because of the angels.+
11 Besides, in connection with [the] Lord neither is woman without man nor man without woman.+ 12 For just as the woman is out of the man,+ so also the man is through the woman;+ but all things are out of God.+ 13 Judge for YOUR own selves: Is it fitting for a woman to pray uncovered to God? 14 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? Because her hair is given her instead of a headdress.*+ 16 However, if any man seems to dispute+ for some other custom,+ we have no other, neither do the congregations of God.
17 But, while giving these instructions, I do not commend YOU because it is, not for the better, but for the worse that YOU meet together.+ 18 For first of all, when YOU come together in a congregation, I hear* divisions* exist among YOU;+ and in some measure I believe it. 19 For there must also be sects*+ among YOU, that the persons approved may also become manifest among YOU.+
20 Therefore, when YOU come together to one place, it is not possible to eat* the Lord’s evening meal.*+ 21 For, when YOU eat [it],* each one takes his own evening meal beforehand, so that one is hungry but another is intoxicated. 22 Certainly YOU do have houses for eating and drinking, do YOU not?+ Or do YOU despise the congregation of God and make those who have nothing+ ashamed? What shall I say to YOU? Shall I commend YOU? In this I do not commend YOU.
23 For I received from the Lord* that which I also handed on to YOU, that the Lord Jesus in the night+ in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf 24 and, after giving thanks, he broke it+ and said: “This means* my body+ which is in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance+ of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup+ also, after he had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant+ by virtue of my blood.+ Keep doing this, as often as YOU drink it, in remembrance+ of me.” 26 For as often+ as YOU eat this loaf and drink this cup, YOU keep proclaiming the death+ of the Lord, until he arrives.+
27 Consequently whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty+ respecting the body and the blood+ of the Lord. 28 First let a man approve himself after scrutiny,+ and thus let him eat of the loaf and drink of the cup. 29 For he that eats and drinks eats and drinks judgment+ against himself if he does not discern the body. 30 That is why many among YOU are weak and sickly, and quite a few are sleeping+ [in death]. 31 But if we would discern what we ourselves are, we would not be judged.+ 32 However, when we are judged,+ we are disciplined by Jehovah,*+ that we may not become condemned+ with the world.+ 33 Consequently, my brothers, when YOU come together to eat [it],+ wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home,+ that YOU may not come together for judgment.+ But the remaining matters I will set in order when I get there.