Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Matthew 5:1–12a

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

Reads in about 1 minute12 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
  2. 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
  3. 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  4. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
  5. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
  6. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
  7. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
  8. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
  9. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
  10. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  11. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  12. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
  2. 2And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:
  3. 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  4. 4Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
  5. 5Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
  6. 6Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
  7. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
  8. 8Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
  9. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
  10. 10Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  11. 11Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:
  12. 12Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

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

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)
  • Protestant: a common funeral reading

Matthew 5:4 explained on VerseFlip

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.