Bible Verses for a Celebration of Life

Scripture for the service, the program, and the days after.

Planning your own farewell? Choose the passages you want read, and the one you want on the card. Your family will be grateful you decided.

Planning for someone you love? Start with their favorites, if you know them. If you do not, the first section holds the passages most families choose. Read a few aloud.

How to choose

Two or three readings is plenty for a service. One at the opening, one after the eulogy, one at the close. If the person had a favorite, that one goes first. The "where it fits" table below places the rest.

Scripture here is from the World English Bible, a modern-English translation in the public domain, and the King James Version. Both may be printed in a program without permission. If your family prefers another translation, read from your own Bible. The references are the same.

The passages most families choose

Psalm 23

Read at almost every service. This is the King James wording most families grew up with.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 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. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 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.

(King James Version)

Psalm 23, modern English

1 Yahweh is my shepherd;
I shall lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

(World English Bible)

John 14:1-3

Often the opening reading.

1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

(World English Bible)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For a life that had its seasons.

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2 a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear,
and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
8 a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.

(World English Bible)

Romans 8:38-39

Nothing separates us.

38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(World English Bible)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

For a marriage, or a person who loved well.

4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.

(World English Bible)

John 11:25-26

Often read at the committal.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

(World English Bible)

Revelation 21:4

No more tears. Often the closing.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”

(World English Bible)

Matthew 5:4

One line. Fits a card or the program cover.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

(World English Bible)

Comfort for those who are grieving

Psalm 34:18

Close to the brokenhearted.

18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

(World English Bible)

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted.

3 He heals the broken in heart,
and binds up their wounds.

(World English Bible)

Isaiah 41:10

Do not be afraid.

10 Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
Yes, I will help you.
Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

(World English Bible)

Matthew 11:28-30

Rest for the weary. Good for a family that cared for someone through a long illness.

28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

(World English Bible)

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you.

27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

(World English Bible)

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Comfort passed on.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

(World English Bible)

Lamentations 3:22-23

New every morning. For the days after.

22 It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed,
because his mercies don’t fail.
23 They are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness.

(World English Bible)

Psalm 46:1-3

Refuge and strength.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes,
though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
3 though its waters roar and are troubled,
though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.

(World English Bible)

Psalm 121:1-8

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills.
Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from Yahweh,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved.
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 Yahweh is your keeper.
Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 Yahweh will keep you from all evil.
He will keep your soul.
8 Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in,
from this time forward, and forever more.

(World English Bible)

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden.

22 Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

(World English Bible)

Jeremiah 31:13

Mourning into joy.

13 Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
the young men and the old together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

(World English Bible)

Isaiah 40:31

Wings like eagles.

31 but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings like eagles.
They will run, and not be weary.
They will walk, and not faint.

(World English Bible)

Celebrating a life well lived

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight. For a life of service or a long struggle.

7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8 From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

(World English Bible)

Matthew 25:21

Well done, good and faithful servant.

21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

(World English Bible)

Proverbs 31:25-31

For a mother or grandmother.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!

(World English Bible)

Micah 6:8

Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly. For a person of quiet integrity.

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good.
What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly,
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

(World English Bible)

Psalm 90:12

Number our days.

12 So teach us to count our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

(World English Bible)

Ecclesiastes 7:1

A good name.

1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

(World English Bible)

Philippians 1:3

Every time I remember you. One line, fits a card.

3 I thank my God whenever I remember you,

(World English Bible)

Proverbs 3:5-6

For someone whose faith carried them.

5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

(World English Bible)

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous. For a veteran, a first responder, a fighter.

9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”

(World English Bible)

Numbers 6:24-26

The blessing. Often the last words of a service.

24 ‘Yahweh bless you, and keep you.
25 Yahweh make his face to shine on you,
and be gracious to you.
26 Yahweh lift up his face toward you,
and give you peace.’

(World English Bible)

Verses to leave for your family

If you are planning ahead, these are the passages people choose to leave behind, on a card, in a letter, or as the reading they ask for.

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down.

8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep,
for you alone, Yahweh, make me live in safety.

(World English Bible)

Psalm 139:7-12

Wherever I go, you are there.

7 Where could I go from your Spirit?
Or where could I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there.
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand will lead me,
and your right hand will hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me.
The light around me will be night,”
12 even the darkness doesn’t hide from you,
but the night shines as the day.
The darkness is like light to you.

(World English Bible)

Romans 14:7-8

Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

(World English Bible)

Philippians 1:21

To live is Christ.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

(World English Bible)

2 Corinthians 5:1

A house not made with hands.

1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

(World English Bible)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

We do not grieve as those without hope.

13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

(World English Bible)

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Death is swallowed up in victory. A longer reading for the service itself.

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Death, where is your sting?
Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(World English Bible)

John 3:16

The verse everyone knows.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

(World English Bible)

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord.

15 Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.

(World English Bible)

Where each reading fits

Reading tips

• Print each reading in 14pt for the reader, with the reference at the top.
• Ask readers a few days ahead, and tell them it is fine to pause.
• Keep a second copy of every reading in someone's pocket.

For the days after

Grief does not end at the service. Five short ones for the refrigerator: Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 34:18, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 41:10.

Preview the collection

Related resources

• Poems
• Music Playlist
• Obituary Template

Find help near you

Clergy and officiants can shape the readings into a service. Find Officiants and Clergy