Bible verses for funerals, word for word from the King James Version: comfort, hope, short verses for a card, longer readings, and verses for a mother, father, spouse or child.
Comforting Bible Verses for a Funeral
These are the verses people reach for first, when the loss is still new. Each one works on its own: read aloud before a prayer, printed under a photo, or written in a sympathy card.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
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Bible Verses About Hope and Eternal Life
At most Christian funerals, the readings move from grief to hope. These verses speak of resurrection, a place prepared, and a day without tears.
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
Short Bible Verses for a Funeral Program or Card
The back of a prayer card or the last page of a program holds one to three lines. These are short enough to print in a readable size under a name and dates.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Love never fails.
A card has two sides: the photo, name and dates on the front, the verse on the back. If you want a prayer as well, keep the verse to one line and put it above the prayer. Our prayers for funeral prayer cards are written to fit next to a verse.
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Scripture Readings for a Funeral Service
A reading at the service is usually one passage of 6 to 12 verses, read by a family member or a friend. It takes one to two minutes. Many services have two readings, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament, often with a psalm between them.
Psalm 23 (Old Testament, about 45 seconds)
The most requested funeral reading of all.
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.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (Old Testament, about one minute)
A good choice for a long life, or for a family that wants a reading that is not only about grief. The full passage includes the lines "a time to kill" and "a time to hate"; some families stop after verse 4.
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.
Psalm 121 (Old Testament, about 40 seconds)
A psalm of protection, often read at the graveside.
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.
New Testament readings
John 14:1–3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, Romans 8:38–39 and Revelation 21:4 (all in the section above) are the most read New Testament passages at funerals. John 14 suits a reader who wants something short and gentle; 1 Thessalonians and Romans 8 suit a minister or a confident reader.
For poems and non-religious readings to pair with a passage, see funeral readings.
Bible Verses for a Funeral by Who You Lost
For a mother or grandmother
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.
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.
For a father or grandfather
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
For a husband or wife
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.
Love never fails.
For a child or baby
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.
Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
For a long, faithful life
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
For a sudden or hard loss
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.
For more lines about a particular person, see our quotes for loved ones who passed away, which mixes verses with short remembrance quotes.
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Uplifting Bible Verses for a Celebration of Life
A celebration of life can still include scripture. These verses lean toward strength, joy and blessing rather than mourning.
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.
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.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
The blessing from Numbers is a natural way to close a service or the last page of a program. More ideas for an uplifting service are in celebration of life quotes.
How to Choose a Bible Verse for a Funeral
- Start with their Bible. If they had a favorite verse, an underlined passage or a verse on the fridge, use it. Ask whoever knew their faith best.
- Match the length to the place. One line for a card or headstone, two or three for a program page, a full passage for a reading.
- Ask the minister or priest first. Many churches choose or approve the readings for the service itself. A Catholic funeral Mass uses readings from the Lectionary, chosen with the priest; Wisdom 3:1 ("But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will touch them") is one of the Old Testament options.
- Keep one translation. If the readings in the service come from one Bible, print the same wording in the program, so guests see what they hear.
- Pair it with a prayer. A verse followed by a short prayer is the most common layout for a program page. Our funeral prayer writer writes a personal prayer around a verse you choose, and prayers for a funeral has ready-made ones.
- Practice the reading aloud. King James wording is slower to read. Read it twice at home, and mark where to breathe.
Printing a Verse on a Program or Prayer Card
Most families print a verse in two places. On a funeral program, it goes on the cover under the name and dates, or on the back page with a prayer or poem; the readings themselves are listed in the order of service by reference, for example "Old Testament reading: Psalm 23, read by Daniel Reyes." On prayer cards, the front carries the portrait, name and dates and the back carries the verse or a prayer.
Copy a verse from this page, paste it into the program or card, and FuneralFolio lays it out on the design you choose. Download a print-ready file, or add printed cards to a printed program order. If someone is speaking as well, the funeral speech writer can open or close a eulogy with the verse the family chose. For a full page of prayers sized for a program, see prayers for a funeral program.
Questions Families Ask
What is a good Bible verse for someone that passed away?
Psalm 23 and John 14:1–3 are the most chosen, because they are familiar and gentle. For a short line on a card, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4) or "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7) fit almost anyone.
What is a good Bible verse for farewell?
The priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24–26, "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee," is the traditional farewell. Paul's goodbye in 2 Corinthians 13:11 also works: "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
What are some beautiful readings for a funeral?
Psalm 23, Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, Psalm 121, John 14:1–3, Romans 8:38–39 and Revelation 21:1–4 are the readings families return to most. Choose one Old Testament and one New Testament passage, and keep each to about a minute.
How many Bible verses are read at a funeral?
Most services have one to three readings, each a passage of several verses rather than a single verse. A short graveside service may have one psalm. Ask the minister: some churches set the number of readings.
Can I print these verses in a funeral program?
Yes. Every verse on this page is quoted word for word from the King James Version, except the two marked WEB, which come from the World English Bible. Both translations are in the public domain in the United States, so you can print them on programs and cards without permission.