Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Psalm 46

A reading from the 1928 Prayer Book burial service, with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 2 minutes11 versesEpiscopal 1928

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King James Version

  1. 1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
  2. 2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
  3. 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
  4. 4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
  5. 5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
  6. 6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
  7. 7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
  8. 8Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
  9. 9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
  10. 10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
  11. 11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Douay-Rheims

Psalm 45 in the Douay-Rheims numbering.

  1. 1Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden.
  2. 2Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.
  3. 3Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.
  4. 4Their waters roared and were troubled: the mountains were troubled with his strength.
  5. 5The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.
  6. 6God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the morning early.
  7. 7Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.
  8. 8The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
  9. 9Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth,
  10. 10Making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.
  11. 11Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
  12. 12The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Psalm 46 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Episcopal: a psalm in the 1928 Prayer Book burial office
  • Protestant: a common funeral reading

Hymns based on it

Psalm 46:1 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 1928 Book of Common Prayer.