Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

2 Corinthians 5:1, 6–10

A Catholic funeral reading (second reading), with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 1 minute6 versesCatholic: New Testament

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King James Version

  1. 1For 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.
  2. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
  3. 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
  4. 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
  5. 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
  6. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 1For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
  2. 6Therefore having always confidence, knowing that while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord.
  3. 7(For we walk by faith and not by sight.)
  4. 8But we are confident and have a good will to be absent rather from the body and to be present with the Lord.
  5. 9And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him.
  6. 10For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read 2 Corinthians 5 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: New Testament (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1014)

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.