Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Psalm 143:1–2, 5–8, 10

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

Reads in about 1 minute7 versesCatholic: Responsorial Psalm

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King James Version

  1. 1Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
  2. 2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
  3. 5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
  4. 6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
  5. 7Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
  6. 8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
  7. 10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Douay-Rheims

Psalm 142 in the Douay-Rheims numbering.

  1. 1A psalm of David, when his son Absalom pursued him. [2 Kings 17.] Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.
  2. 2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
  3. 5I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands.
  4. 6I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee.
  5. 7Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
  6. 8Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee.
  7. 10Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land:

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Psalm 143 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

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

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.