Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

John 11:32–45

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

Reads in about 2 minutes14 versesCatholic: Gospel

Add to my planLarge print for the reader

King James Version

  1. 32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
  2. 33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
  3. 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
  4. 35Jesus wept.
  5. 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
  6. 37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
  7. 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
  8. 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
  9. 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
  10. 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
  11. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
  12. 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
  13. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
  14. 45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 32When Mary therefore was come where Jesus was, seeing him, she fell down at his feet and saith to him. Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
  2. 33Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews that were come with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and troubled himself,
  3. 34And said: Where have you laid him? They say to him: Lord, come and see.
  4. 35And Jesus wept.
  5. 36The Jews therefore said: Behold how he loved him.
  6. 37But some of them said: Could not he that opened the eyes of the man born blind have caused that this man should not die?
  7. 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it.
  8. 39Jesus saith: Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to him: Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days.
  9. 40Jesus saith to her: Did not I say to thee that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?
  10. 41They took therefore the stone away. And Jesus lifting up his eyes, said: Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me.
  11. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
  12. 43When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: Lazarus, come forth.
  13. 44And presently he that had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with winding bands. And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: Loose him and let him go.
  14. 45Many therefore of the Jews, who were come to Mary and Martha and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in him.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read John 11 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)

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.