Old Testament readings for funerals are usually the first reading of the service. They speak honestly about grief, and they hold on to God through it. This guide gives twenty-two Old Testament scriptures for funerals with their full words, says what each one is about, and helps you choose the right one for the person you have lost.
Where the Old Testament reading comes in the service
Most Christian funerals have two or three readings.
- The first reading, from the Old Testament.
- A psalm, said or sung. Psalm 23 is the usual choice.
- A second reading, from the New Testament, and in many churches a Gospel reading after it.
In a Catholic funeral Mass, the family normally chooses the first reading from a set list. See Catholic funeral Mass readings for all of it. The first seven readings below are on that list. In the Easter season the first reading is taken from the New Testament instead. In other churches the choice is freer. Whatever your church, ask the minister before you settle the readings.
The words below are from the King James Version, which is free to print anywhere. The readings from the books of Wisdom and Maccabees are from the Douay-Rheims Bible, the old Catholic translation, which is also free to print. In church, the reader will use the translation your church reads from.
Old Testament readings often chosen for a funeral Mass
Job 19:23-27. I know that my Redeemer lives
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
The best known Old Testament funeral reading. Job has lost everything, and still says that he will see God. It suits any funeral, and above all one after a long illness.
Isaiah 25:6-9. He will swallow up death in victory
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
A picture of a feast on the mountain of the Lord, where death is destroyed and every tear wiped away. A reading of hope, good for someone who loved to gather people round a table.
Lamentations 3:17-26. His mercies are new every morning
And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
It begins in despair and ends in trust. Choose it when the loss is hard, and the family does not want to pretend otherwise.
Daniel 12:1-3. They shall shine as the stars
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Those who sleep in the dust shall awake, and the wise shall shine like stars. Often chosen for a teacher, a catechist or a pastor, someone who "turned many to righteousness".
Wisdom 3:1-9. The souls of the just are in the hand of God
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery: And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that trust in him, shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace is to his elect.
The most chosen first reading at Catholic funerals. To the world they seemed to die, but they are at peace. The book of Wisdom is in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, and in the Apocrypha of others.
Wisdom 4:7-15. An honourable age is not counted in years
But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. And a spotless life is old age. He pleased God and was beloved, and living among sinners he was translated. He was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time: For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not, nor lay up such things in their hearts: That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect to his chosen.
A reading for someone who died young. A full life is measured by goodness, not by length.
2 Maccabees 12:43-46. It is a holy thought to pray for the dead
And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
A Catholic reading about praying for those who have died, in hope of the resurrection.
Old Testament readings of comfort
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. A time for everything
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Perhaps the most widely chosen Old Testament funeral reading outside the Psalms. People of any faith, or none, can hear it.
Isaiah 40:28-31. They shall mount up with wings as eagles
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Strength for the weary. It speaks to the family as much as about the one who has died.
Isaiah 43:1-3. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.
"I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." A reading of belonging, and of being carried through the worst.
Isaiah 61:1-3. To comfort all that mourn
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. A reading that looks past the day of the funeral to healing.
Deuteronomy 33:27. The everlasting arms
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
One line, often printed on a programme cover or read at the graveside.
Job 1:21. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away
Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Short and plain. Often read after a sudden death.
Old Testament readings for a mother, a father or an elder
Proverbs 31:25-31. Her children rise up and call her blessed
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
The reading for a mother or grandmother. The whole passage runs from verse 10 to verse 31. These last verses are enough for a service.
Psalm 103:13-17. As a father pities his children
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children.
Often read for a father. Our days are like grass, but the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.
Micah 6:8. To do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
A single verse for a person of quiet goodness.
Psalms for a funeral
A psalm may be the first reading, or it may follow it. These are the ones most often chosen.
Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 121. I will lift up my eyes to the hills
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Chosen for its last line: the Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for evermore.
Psalm 130. Out of the depths
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
A psalm of waiting, for a family in deep grief.
Psalm 90:1-12. Teach us to number our days
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Read at the funeral of an elder. It is the source of the words "threescore years and ten".
Psalm 46:1-7. God is our refuge and strength
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalm 139:7-12. Nowhere is beyond the reach of God
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
There is nowhere, not even the grave, where God is not.
How to choose an Old Testament reading
- Start with the person. Did they have a favourite psalm? Was a passage marked in their Bible?
- Match the life. Proverbs 31 for a mother. Daniel 12 for a teacher. Wisdom 4 for someone who died young. Psalm 90 for an elder.
- Match the mood. Lamentations 3 and Psalm 130 are honest about pain. Isaiah 25 and Job 19 look ahead with hope.
- Pair it well. If the Old Testament reading is about grief, let the New Testament reading be about resurrection.
- Keep it short. Six to twelve verses is enough.
Choosing the reader and printing the reading
A reader should be able to read clearly, slowly and without breaking down. A grandchild, a brother or sister, or a close friend is a common choice. Give them the passage several days before, in the translation the church will use, and ask them to practise aloud.
In the programme, print the reference and the name of the reader, for example "First reading: Job 19, verses 23 to 27, read by his daughter". Print the full words if guests may not bring Bibles, and name the translation.
Questions people ask
What is the most popular Old Testament reading for a funeral?
Psalm 23 is chosen most often. After the Psalms, Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 to 8, Job 19, verses 23 to 27, and Isaiah 25, verses 6 to 9, are the most common. At Catholic funerals, Wisdom 3, verses 1 to 9, is chosen more than any other.
What are the Old Testament readings for a Catholic funeral?
The usual list is Job 19:1, 23-27, Wisdom 3:1-9, Wisdom 4:7-15, Isaiah 25:6-9, Lamentations 3:17-26, Daniel 12:1-3 and 2 Maccabees 12:43-46. The family chooses one. In the Easter season the first reading comes from the New Testament.
Is there an Old Testament reading for a mother's funeral?
Proverbs 31, verses 10 to 31, about the woman of noble character, is the usual choice. Isaiah 66, verse 13, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you", is a short one.
How long should a funeral reading be?
Six to twelve verses, which takes about a minute and a half to read aloud. Longer readings tire a grieving congregation.
Can a family member read at the funeral?
In most churches, yes. Ask the minister. Choose someone who reads well in public and give them time to practise.
Beside the first reading
For the second reading and the Gospel, see New Testament readings for funerals. For single verses to print on a cover or a card, see Bible verses for funerals. For the music, see funeral hymns.
Build the order of service with Homegoing
Homegoing starts you with an order of service for your church, with the readings in place. You can change each one, name the readers and print the words in full. Your minister approves the order before printing. Start a programme