Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Psalm 103:8, 10, 13–18

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

Reads in about 1 minute8 versesCatholic: Responsorial Psalm

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King James Version

  1. 8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
  2. 10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
  3. 13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
  4. 14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
  5. 15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
  6. 16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
  7. 17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
  8. 18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Douay-Rheims

Psalm 102 in the Douay-Rheims numbering.

  1. 8The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy.
  2. 10He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
  3. 13As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him:
  4. 14For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust:
  5. 15Man’s days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.
  6. 16For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no more.
  7. 17But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children’s children,
  8. 18To such as keep his covenant, And are mindful of his commandments to do them.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Psalm 103 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Responsorial Psalm (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1013)

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.