The Best Bible Verses & Quotes to Read at Funerals

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Uplifting, moving, and meaningful quotes to read at a funeral service

Co-authored by David I. Jacobson and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: January 5, 2025 Fact Checked

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Bible Verses & Psalms

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Blessings and Prayers

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Literary Quotes

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Short Quotes

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Expert Q&A

Speaking at a funeral can definitely be a bit nerve-wracking, so we're here to help you choose the perfect quote or passage to share. We’ve compiled a list of funeral readings for you to choose from so that you have one less thing to worry about at this difficult time. Keep reading for the complete list of moving, meaningful options, from Bible verses and psalms for Christian services to poems and literary quotes for non-religious services.

Section 1 of 4:

Bible Verses & Psalms to Read at Funerals

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1
Read an uplifting Bible verse if the person who passed was a Christian. Bible verses about hope and comfort in the face of grief are common choices at Christian funeral services. If your loved one was religious, this is a great way to honor their faith. Here are some hopeful and meaningful options to add to your speech or eulogy:
- Matthew 5:4 : “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” ^{[1]
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- John 3:16 : “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ^{[2]
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- John 11:25 : “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’” ^{[3]
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- Psalm 34:18 : “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” ^{[4]
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- John 14:1-3 : “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” ^{[5]
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- Romans 8:37-39 : “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ^{[6]
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- Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 : “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” ^{[7]
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2
Read a full psalm if you’re looking for a beautiful, poetic option. Psalms are great choices if you want to read a longer passage that can stand on its own, and their poetic language is sure to comfort those who are grieving. If the person who passed had a favorite psalm, read it at the service to honor them in a personal, meaningful way. If you’re looking for suggestions, Psalm 23 is a popular and uplifting choice:
- 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. ^{[8]
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Section 2 of 4:

Blessings and Prayers

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Irish Blessing This beautiful Irish blessing has been passed down from generation to generation. Traditionally, it's a way of wishing someone good fortune as they move through life, but it can also be a moving way to say goodbye to your loved one you meet again. ^{[9]
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- May the road rise up to meet you.
  May the wind be always at your back.
  May the sun shine warm upon your face;
  The rains fall soft upon your fields
  And until we meet again,
  May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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Catholic Prayer If the person who passed was Catholic, consider reading this prayer of eternal rest to wish them peace. You can also personalize the pronouns in the prayer to fit your loved one, which makes it even more personal and meaningful. ^{[10]
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- Eternal rest grant unto (him/her/them), O Lord,
  and let Your perpetual light shine upon (him/her/them).
  May (he/she/they) rest in peace.
  May (his/her/their) soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
  Through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. ^{[11]
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Section 3 of 4:

Literary Quotes to Read at Funerals

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1
“Let Me Go,” by Christina Rossetti This moving poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) is about coping with grief and remembering your loved one fondly. It’s an uplifting choice to read at a celebration of life, as its focus is on celebrating your positive memories, rather than getting lost in sorrow.
- When I come to the end of the road
  And the sun has set for me
  I want no rites in a gloom filled room
  Why cry for a soul set free?
  
  Miss me a little, but not for long
  And not with your head bowed low
  Remember the love that once we shared
  Miss me, but let me go.
  
  For this is a journey we all must take
  And each must go alone.
  It's all part of the master plan
  A step on the road to home.
  
  When you are lonely and sick at heart
  Go to the friends we know.
  Laugh at all the things we used to do
  Miss me, but let me go. ^{[12]
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“When Great Trees Fall,” by Maya Angelou This excerpt by Maya Angelou (1928-2014) serves as a reminder that peace eventually comes after grief. The poem talks about "great trees" falling, and very large trees like oaks and redwoods are known for being hundreds of years old. ^{[13]
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Research source} Because of this, it's an excellent choice to honor a grandparent or an elder, whose many years of life make them as commanding and wise as these old trees.
- And when great souls die,
  after a period peace blooms,
  slowly and always
  irregularly. Spaces fill
  with a kind of
  soothing electric vibration.
  Our senses, restored, never
  to be the same, whisper to us.
  They existed. They existed.
  We can be. Be and be
  better. For they existed. ^{[14]
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“In Memoriam A. H. H.,” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson This excerpt from a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) reminds us that it’s worth it to love others deeply, even though we’ll feel pain when we lose them. The poem could be read in a romantic light, so it's a good choice to read at the funeral of a spouse, though it can also be read in a familial or platonic way.
- I hold it true, whate'er befall;
  I feel it, when I sorrow most;
  'Tis better to have loved and lost
  Than never to have loved at all. ^{[15]
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“Epitaph on My Own Friend,” by Robert Burns This moving poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796) is a heartfelt tribute to a friend who has passed away. It’s a great choice to read at the funeral of a close friend if you want to praise their knowledge and character.
- An honest man here lies at rest
  As e'er God with his image blest.
  The friend of man, the friend of truth;
  The friend of Age, and guide of Youth:
  Few hearts like his with virtue warm'd,
  Few heads with knowledge so inform'd:
  If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
  If there is none, he made the best of this. ^{[16]
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“Nothing Gold Can Stay,” by Robert Frost This well-known poem by Robert Frost (1874-1963) is a poignant reminder that all things must eventually end, just like the seasons must end each year. It’s a moving and beautiful choice about accepting grief.
- Nature’s first green is gold,
  Her hardest hue to hold.
  Her early leaf’s a flower;
  But only so an hour.
  Then leaf subsides to leaf.
  So Eden sank to grief,
  So dawn goes down to day.
  Nothing gold can stay. ^{[17]
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“Dear Lovely Death,” by Langston Hughes This beautiful poem by Langston Hughes (1926-1964) encourages us to view death simply as a change, rather than an ending. It’s an uplifting and poignant choice, and it can offer comfort to those who are having a hard time accepting the loss of this person.
- Dear lovely Death
  That taketh all things under wing—
  Never to kill—
  Only to change
  Into some other thing
  This suffering flesh,
  To make it either more or less,
  But not again the same—
  Dear lovely Death,
  Change is thy other name. ^{[18]
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“She is Gone,” by David Harkins This moving poem by David Harkins talks about remembering a loved one fondly, rather than feeling sadness over their passing. It’s a very popular choice for funeral services, and it’s sure to offer peace and comfort to all who are present. You can also change the pronouns to fit the person who has passed to make it more personal.
- You can shed tears that she is gone
  Or you can smile because she has lived
  You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
  Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
  Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
  Or you can be full of the love that you shared
  You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
  Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
  You can remember her and only that she is gone
  Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
  You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
  Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. ^{[19]
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Excerpts from the novels Tuesdays With Morrie and Fahrenheit 451 If you would rather read prose than poetry, these two quotes from novels are excellent options. Both discuss the powerful effect our loved ones leave behind. They serve as beautiful reminders that the people we care about are always with us, even after they’ve passed away.
- “As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on—in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.”— Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie ^{[20]
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- “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there.”— Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Section 4 of 4:

Short Quotes to Read at Funerals

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Choose a shorter quote if you have limited time. A passage on grief, loss, or hope is both meaningful and concise if you’ve only been allotted a short amount of time to speak at the funeral . Or, if you’re delivering a eulogy , conclude with one of these quotes to leave off on an uplifting note.
- Uplifting Quotes
  - “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” — Emily Dickinson ^{[21]
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  - “What is grief, if not love persevering?” — Vision in the TV show WandaVision ^{[22]
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  - “Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” ― Leo Tolstoy ^{[23]
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- Comforting Quotes
  - “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” — Pierre Auguste Renoir ^{[24]
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  - “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”— A.A. Milne ^{[25]
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  - “Never. We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us; they don’t disappear from our lives. We are merely in different rooms.”— Paulo Coelho ^{[26]
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- Quotes on Grief
  - “The darker the night the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief the closer is God.”—Fyodor Dostoevsky ^{[27]
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  - “"Grief is just love with no place to go." — Jamie Anderson ^{[28]
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  - “Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom.”—Rumi

Expert Q&A

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Question

What else can I talk about when speaking at funerals?

David I. Jacobson
Funeral Home Director
David I. Jacobson is the founder of Chicago Jewish Funerals, an independent Jewish owned funeral provider that evolved into two funeral homes in the Chicagoland area. With over 30 years of experience serving families, David is a leading expert on Kavod Hamet, the Jewish traditions of honoring and respecting the dead. David is an active funeral director that serves people planning and in need of funerals, lecturing to congregations, community groups, and schools extensively about the values of the Jewish funeral as well as the dying process and the value of one’s legacy.

David I. Jacobson

Funeral Home Director

Expert Answer

You can also share your personal thoughts about the person who passed away, what they left behind, and how they made a difference in the world. A story or memory that shows who they really were. Was there a time when their kindness, sense of humor, or strength really stood out? Describe it in a way that helps everyone picture it—it makes their memory feel more real and brings everyone closer to them. You can also talk about what they taught you. Did they show you something important, either by what they said or by how they lived their life? Maybe they taught you to be patient, to find joy in little things, or to handle hard times with courage. When you share these lessons, you’re honoring them and giving the people listening something meaningful to take away.

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The Best Bible Verses & Quotes to Read at Funerals

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Bible Verses & Psalms to Read at Funerals

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