Bible Verses for a Funeral: 50+ Readings and Short Verses

Sometimes after a loss you can be asked to do a Bible reading at the funeral. But that’s quite vague and leaves you to have to decide what to choose.

So if you’ve been asked to choose or read scripture at a funeral I hope this guide helps you find the right one. Below you’ll find the most used funeral readings written out in full, short verses for programs and memorial cards, verses picked for a mom, dad, grandparent, spouse or child and some tips for standing up and reading them aloud.

All the scripture here is from the King James Version, which is public domain and still the version most people recognize at a funeral. If your church uses the NIV, ESV or another translation, the references are the same, so you can easily look up the wording you prefer.

How to Choose a Bible Verse for a Funeral

• Did they have a favorite? Check their Bible for underlined or highlighted passages or just ask the family. A verse they loved will always mean more than one that just sounds nice.
• Where will it be used? A reading during the service can be a full passage. A funeral program, prayer card or headstone needs a single line or two.
• Who is reading it? A grandchild or someone nervous about public speaking will do better with something under a minute long.
• What tone does the family want? Some verses are comforting for those left behind. Others focus on hope and heaven. A few are really about celebrating a life well lived.
• Is the pastor or priest choosing some of the readings? Ask before you settle on anything. Many ministers have a standard order of service and will be happy to fit your choice in but you don’t want two people reading Psalm 23.

If the service is a Catholic funeral Mass, the readings usually come from an approved list so take a look at our guide to Catholic funeral readings before you pick.

The Most Popular Bible Readings for Funerals

These are the passages that get read again and again at Christian funerals and for good reason. Each one is written out in full so you can print it straight from here. I’ve added a rough reading time for each, read at a slow, steady pace.

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Psalm 23 (about 45 seconds)

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.

If you only know one funeral reading, it’s probably this one. It works for almost anyone and because so many people know it by heart you’ll often hear the room quietly saying it along with you.

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (about 1 minute)

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.

This one is a good fit when someone lived a long, full life. It also works well for families who are only loosely religious, since it reads almost like a poem.

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John 14:1-3 (about 30 seconds)

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.

Short, gentle and full of hope. It’s one of the best choices if the person reading is worried about getting emotional because it’s over almost before you know it.

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Romans 8:38-39 (about 20 seconds)

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.

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1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 (about 40 seconds)

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Most people know this as the wedding reading which is why it can be so moving at the funeral of a husband or wife. Just know that the King James uses “charity” where most modern Bibles say “love”. Lots of families ask the reader to say “love” instead.

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1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (about 50 seconds)

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (about 1 minute)

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.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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Revelation 21:1-4 (about 45 seconds)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
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.

If the person you lost was sick for a long time that last verse works very well. No more pain. That’s a comfort a lot of families need to hear.

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Isaiah 40:28-31 (about 40 seconds)

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.

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Psalm 121 (about 40 seconds)

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.

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2 Corinthians 5:1 (about 10 seconds)

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.

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Short Bible Verses for Funeral Programs and Memorial Cards

When you only have room for a line or two (on the back of the program, a prayer card, a slideshow slide or the card that goes with the flowers) these are the ones that tend to get used most. For more card wording our list of short funeral verses for cards has lots of non scripture options too.

• “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
• “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
• “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
• “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
• “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18
• “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
• “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
• “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
• “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13
• “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21
• “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
• “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:22
• “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25
• “Let not your heart be troubled.” John 14:1

Always put the reference under the verse, not just the words. People really do look them up afterward.

Bible Verses for a Mother’s Funeral

Proverbs 31 is the go to here. It describes a woman who worked hard, spoke kindly and was deeply loved by her family.

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Proverbs 31:25-31

Strength and honor 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.
Favor 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.

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• “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10
• “Her children arise up, and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31:28
• “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13

If you want something to pair with the scripture our funeral poems for mom and prayers for the loss of a mother go well alongside these.

Bible Verses for a Father’s Funeral

There’s no single “dad” chapter the way Proverbs 31 works for moms so most families pick verses about integrity, hard work and quiet faith.

• “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7
• “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Psalm 103:13
• “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” Psalm 37:37
• “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?” Micah 6:8
• “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Micah 6:8 is a lovely one for a dad who never made a fuss about his faith but just went about it quietly.

You’ll find more ideas in our funeral poems for dad.

Bible Verses for a Grandparent’s Funeral

When someone reaches a good old age scripture has a lot to say about it and most of it is surprisingly warm.

• “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31
• “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6
• “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.” Job 5:26
• “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.” 2 Timothy 1:5

That last one is good for a grandmother who passed her faith down through the family. If a grandchild is doing the reading it’s a beautiful way of saying “she’s the reason I believe”.

Use it with our funeral poems for grandmother or eulogy examples for a grandfather if you’re also writing a tribute.

Bible Verses for a Husband or Wife

These verses speak to a love that doesn’t end just because one of you has gone on ahead.

• “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death.” Song of Solomon 8:6
• “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8:7
• “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
• “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9

If you’re writing the eulogy as well our eulogy examples for a husband and eulogy examples for a wife show how other people have worked a verse into their words.

Bible Verses for the Funeral of a Child or Baby

There are no words that make this easier. But these are the verses many grieving parents have found some comfort from mostly because they speak of a child being held and known.

• “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14
• “He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.” Isaiah 40:11
• “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” Jeremiah 1:5
• “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:23

2 Samuel 12:23 comes from King David after the death of his infant son. It’s honest about the pain and but still talks about the hope of seeing that child again, which is why so many parents choose it. Our child eulogy examples may help if you’ve been asked to speak.

Bible Verses for Someone Who Suffered a Long Illness

After months or years of watching someone you love struggle there’s often relief mixed in with the grief. That’s normal, and these verses give you a way to say it out loud.

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2 Corinthians 4:16-18

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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• “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
• “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.” Revelation 21:4

Bible Verses for a Sudden or Unexpected Death

When a death comes out of nowhere people are often still in shock at the funeral. Verses about God as a refuge and a steady hand tend to work better here than ones about a long life well lived.

• “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed.” Psalm 46:1-2
• “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.” Isaiah 41:10
• “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
• “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” Psalm 34:18

Bible Verses for a Veteran or First Responder

For someone who served (in the military, as a firefighter, a police officer or a nurse) these verses are about courage and laying down your own comfort for others. They work well with our military eulogy examples.

• “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
• “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9
• “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Bible Verses for a Graveside or Committal Service

The graveside part of the day is usually short and the readings are too. These are the traditional ones a minister might use as the casket is lowered or the urn is placed but family members can read them too.

• “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:19
• “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7
• “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Job 19:25
• “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26

And for a closing blessing it’s hard to beat the old priestly blessing from Numbers. I’ve heard it said at the very end of so many services, often by the pastor with a hand raised over the family.

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Numbers 6:24-26

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.

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If you’re looking for wording to go on the headstone later many of these verses work for that too. Our quotes for headstone epitaphs has more ideas.

How to Use a Bible Verse in a Eulogy

You don’t have to choose between a reading and a eulogy. A single verse at the start or end of a eulogy can tie everything together especially if it’s one the person loved. The trick is to say why it matters and not just drop it in.

These are a few examples of how you might introduce a verse in your own words.

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“Mom had a little card stuck to the fridge for as long as I can remember. It said Proverbs 31:28, ‘Her children arise up, and call her blessed.’ I used to think it was just a nice saying. Today I understand it. So, Mom, we’re all standing up, and we’re calling you blessed.”

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“Dad wasn’t a man who talked much about his faith. He just did the next right thing, every day, for seventy-eight years. When I think of him, I think of Micah 6:8: ‘What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’ That was him. That was all of him.”

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“I want to finish with the words Grandma always said when we left her house, from Numbers chapter six. ‘The LORD bless thee, and keep thee.’ Grandma, we’ll keep you too. Always.”

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For more on structure our guide on how to write a eulogy goes through it step by step and these Christian eulogy examples show scripture used in full tributes.

A Short Verse to Introduce a Scripture Reading

Sometimes it helps to say a few words before you start reading just to settle your nerves and give the room a moment to quiet down. I wrote this one to use before a reading at a friend’s service and you’re welcome to use it.

Tips for Reading Scripture at a Funeral

Being asked to read is an honor but it’s also nerve racking, especially when you’re grieving yourself. These tips can help you to get through it:

• Print it in a big font. Don’t rely on reading from a Bible with tiny print or from your phone. Use at least 16 point on a single sheet of paper and bring a spare copy.
• Practice out loud at least three times. King James wording can trip you up (“thou anointest” is hard to say). Saying it aloud a few times makes it feel natural.
• Look up any names or tricky words. Check how to pronounce things like “Ecclesiastes” or “principalities” before the day.
• Announce the reading first. Something simple like “A reading from the book of Psalms, chapter 23” lets people find it if they want to follow along.
• Slow down. Almost everyone reads too fast when they’re nervous. Pause at every colon and period. It will feel painfully slow to you but just right to everyone else.
• It’s okay to cry. If you need to stop then stop. Take a breath, take a sip of water and carry on. Nobody in that room will think less of you. If you’re truly worried ask someone to stand nearby who could finish it for you.
• Check the translation with the minister. Some churches prefer a specific version. If yours uses the NIV or ESV look up the same chapter and verse in that translation.
• End clearly. Traditional endings like “This is the word of the Lord” are common in many churches, but you can also just pause, look up and quietly return to your seat.

If you’re also unsure what to say to the family before or after the service our guide on what to say at a funeral might help.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for verses to share with someone who is grieving rather than for the service itself take a look at our Bible verses about loss and comforting Bible verses. And if you’d like a prayer to go alongside your reading our collection of funeral prayers is a good next stop.

I hope one of these verses gave you the words you were looking for.