Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Job 19:1, 23–27a

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

Reads in about 1 minute6 versesCatholic: Old Testament

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King James Version

  1. 1Then Job answered and said,
  2. 23Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
  3. 24That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
  4. 25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
  5. 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
  6. 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 1Then Job answered, and said:
  2. 23Who will grant me that my words may be written? who will grant me that they may be marked down in a book?
  3. 24With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone?
  4. 25For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.
  5. 26And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I shall see my God.
  6. 27Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Job 19 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Old Testament (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1011)

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.