New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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So take me for your example, even as I take Christ for mine.
2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.
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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 Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ.
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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 Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head,
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Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head.
5 but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved.
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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 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil.
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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 For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man.
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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 Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
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For the man did not come from the woman, but the woman from the man.
9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man.
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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 symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
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For this reason it is right for the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman.
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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 man comes through woman; but all things come from God.
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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 unveiled?
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Be judges yourselves of the question: does it seem right for a woman to take part in prayer unveiled?
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him,
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Does it not seem natural to you that if a man has long hair, it is a cause of shame to him?
15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
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But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
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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 Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
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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 For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it.
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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 Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.
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For divisions are necessary among you, in order that those who have God's approval may be clearly seen among you.
20 When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord's supper.
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But now, when you come together, it is not possible to take the holy meal of the Lord:
21 For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk.
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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 What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!
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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 handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,
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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 that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
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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 he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
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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 the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
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For whenever you take the bread and the cup you give witness to the Lord's death till he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.
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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 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
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But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself.
29 For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.
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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 For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
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For this cause a number of you are feeble and ill, and a number are dead.
31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.
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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 disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
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But if punishment does come, it is sent by the Lord, so that we may be safe when the world is judged.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
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So then, my brothers, when you come together to the holy meal of the Lord, let there be waiting for one another.
34 If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.
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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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.