1 Corinthians 11:4-16

New International Reader's Version

⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame on his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered brings shame on her head. It is the same as having her head shaved. ⁶ What if a woman does not cover her head? She might as well have her hair cut off. But it is shameful for her to cut her hair or shave her head. So she should cover her head.

⁷ A man should not cover his head. He is the likeness and glory of God. But woman is the glory of man. ⁸ Man did not come from woman. Woman came from man. ⁹ Also, man was not created for woman. Woman was created for man. ¹⁰ That’s why a woman should have authority over her own head. She should have this because of the angels. ¹¹ But here is how things are for those who belong to the Lord. Woman is not independent of man. And man is not independent of woman. ¹² Woman came from man, and man is born from woman. But everything comes from God.

¹³ You be the judge. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God without covering her head? ¹⁴ Suppose a man has long hair. Doesn’t the very nature of things teach you that it is shameful? ¹⁵ And suppose a woman has long hair. Doesn’t the very nature of things teach you that it is her glory? Long hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone wants to argue about this, we don’t have any other practice. And God’s churches don’t either.