Old Testament Scriptures for a Funeral

If you are choosing readings for a funeral, the Old Testament gives you some of the steadiest words in the Bible. These are not polite phrases meant to fill a program. They are the prayers and laments of people who buried spouses, children, and friends, and who spoke to God honestly in the middle of it. You do not need to explain them or dress them up. Read them slowly, and let them do their work.

A good funeral reading does three things: it names the sorrow, it remembers who God is, and it leaves the mourner with something solid to hold. The passages below do all three. You can read one, or three, or set them around the service — a psalm near the start, a lament in the middle, a promise before the closing prayer.

Which Old Testament passages are most often read at funerals?

Psalm 23 is the one most people know, and it holds up under pressure. It speaks of a Shepherd who leads, restores, and stays close in the darkest valley.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. — Psalm 23:1-4 (BSB)

Psalm 90:1-2 turns the mourner’s eyes to God’s eternity without denying how short life feels.

Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. — Psalm 90:1-2 (BSB)

Isaiah 25:8 is a promise of God swallowing up death forever — a verse the New Testament later applies to the resurrection of Christ.

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken. — Isaiah 25:8 (BSB)

Lamentations 3:22-23 is short, and it fits a graveside well.

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! — Lamentations 3:22-23 (BSB)

What if I want a passage that lets people grieve out loud?

The Old Testament does not flinch from grief, and that gives your service permission to be sad. Psalm 88:10-12 is one of the darkest prayers in Scripture, and it is still a prayer. Job 3:13-19 lets a suffering man wish for rest. Psalm 6:5 and Psalm 30:9 ask God honest questions about the grave.

You do not have to choose between honesty and hope. A funeral can hold both. Many services read a lament first and a promise after, so the room moves the way grief actually moves.

2 Samuel 1:17-27 is David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan. 2 Samuel 3:33-34 is his lament over Abner, and 2 Samuel 18:33 is his cry over his son Absalom. These show that mourning is not a lack of faith. Even a king wept.

Where is the hope of resurrection in the Old Testament?

It is there, though it is often a whisper rather than a shout. Job 19:25-27 is the clearest of them: Job says he knows his Redeemer lives and that in his flesh he will see God. Psalm 49:15 says God will redeem the soul from the power of Sheol. Psalm 73:26 says that when flesh and heart fail, God remains the strength of the heart. Daniel 12:2 speaks of many who sleep in the dust waking, some to everlasting life. Hosea 13:14 taunts the grave: “I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting?” (BSB).

The Old Testament does not give the full picture of what happens after death. That comes in the New Testament, where Jesus says plainly, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25, BSB). But the Old Testament plants the seed, and it is right to read those seeds at a funeral.

How do I choose readings for a specific person or service?

Match the passage to the person and the room, not to a template. If the one who died loved the outdoors, Psalm 23 or Psalm 121 may fit. If the family is angry and raw, Psalm 88 or Job 3 gives them words. If the death was sudden, Isaiah 40:31 and Nahum 1:7 speak of strength and refuge. If the person was elderly and had walked with God for decades, Psalm 90 and Psalm 116:15 are fitting.

A few practical notes:

• Read from a public-domain translation such as the Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, or American Standard Version so the wording is clear and free to use.
• Keep each reading to a few verses. Long passages lose a grieving room.
• Print the readings in the program so people can follow along.
• Ask a pastor or a mature believer to help you place them in the service.

What should I say after I read one of these passages?

You do not need to preach. A short, plain sentence is enough: “This was her favorite psalm.” Or, “We read this because it is true even today.” Then stop. Let the words sit.

If you are the one grieving, you are allowed to say almost nothing. You can hand the reading to someone else. You can sit down. Grief is not a performance.

If you are helping a family plan a service, remember that the goal is not to explain the death. The goal is to place the mourner in front of God, who is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). That is enough.

Where do I go from here?

Read these passages out loud before the service, even if only to yourself. Let them become familiar in your mouth. Pray simply — tell God what you are feeling, and ask Him for strength for the day. And stay close to a local church. A pastor and a congregation can carry what one person cannot carry alone. If the grief is heavy and will not lift, speak with a pastor and with a doctor or licensed counselor. You are not meant to walk this road by yourself.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, help is available right now. In the United States and Canada, call or text 988. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, call Samaritans on 116 123. In Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Anywhere else, visit findahelpline.com or call your local emergency number.

Common questions

What is the best Old Testament verse for a funeral?

Psalm 23 is the most widely read because it speaks of God’s presence in the valley of the shadow of death. Isaiah 25:8 and Lamentations 3:22-23 are also common and fit a graveside well. Choose the one that matches the family’s need and the person’s life.

Does the Old Testament teach resurrection?

It hints at it. Job 19:25-27, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 73:26, and Daniel 12:2 all point to God redeeming His people from the grave. The full picture comes in the New Testament, where Jesus Christ rises bodily and promises resurrection to those who trust Him.

Can I read a lament at a Christian funeral?

Yes. Psalm 88, Psalm 6:5, and Job 3 are honest prayers of grief, and they give mourners words when they have none. A funeral can hold both lament and hope, just as the Bible does.

How many Scripture readings should a funeral have?

Two or three short readings are usually enough. One psalm, one lament or wisdom passage, and one promise of resurrection covers the service well. Keep each reading to a few verses so the room can stay with the words.