The psalms read at baptisms, psalms about water and being washed clean, and short verses for a baby's baptism.
No psalm mentions baptism. What the psalms do have is water and washing. One writer asks God to wash him whiter than snow. Another hears the LORD's voice over the waters, and another longs for God the way a deer longs for streams. A few psalms are also set for Catholic baptisms today, and the notes below say which ones, with the source for each.
The picks are grouped as psalms used at baptisms, psalms about water, psalms about being washed clean, and verses for a baby's baptism or christening card. Tick the verses you want and print them as one sheet.
For the baptism of children, the Lectionary for Mass (LM 758) offers Psalm 23, Psalm 27 or Psalm 34, according to the Catholic Lectionary Website. The USCCB readings for the 2026 Easter Vigil set Psalms 42 and 43 when baptism is celebrated.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
From one of the three psalms offered for infant baptism. The shepherd makes the sheep lie down and leads them beside still waters, a picture of rest and care.
One thing I have asked of the LORD, that I will seek after:that I may dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life,to see the LORD’s beauty,and to inquire in his temple.
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Also from a psalm offered for infant baptism. The writer asks for one thing only: to live in the LORD's house all the days of his life.
They looked to him, and were radiant.Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
Those who looked to him were radiant, and their faces were not covered with shame. One refrain offered with Psalm 34 at a baptism, look to him that you may be radiant with joy, is built on this line.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,so my soul pants after you, God.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
A deer panting for streams of water is the picture of a soul longing for God. The 2026 Easter Vigil readings set this psalm after the reading from Ezekiel 36 when baptism is celebrated.
Baptism is done with water. In these psalms the water is where God speaks, where a river gladdens a city, and where a person is pulled out alive.
The LORD’s voice is on the waters.The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
The LORD's voice is on the waters, and the God of glory thunders. Psalm 29 is the psalm for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in Year A of the Lectionary.
There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad,the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
A river whose streams make the city of God glad. The water here is calm and gives life, in a psalm otherwise full of roaring seas and falling mountains.
He sent from on high.He took me.He drew me out of many waters.
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He sent from on high, took hold of me and drew me out of many waters. The heading says David sang this psalm when the LORD delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul.
Prayers that ask for a clean start. They speak of washing, forgiveness and a sin that is covered.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. The writer asks to be purified and then states the result with confidence: I will be clean.
Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven,whose sin is covered.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
The psalm opens with the happiness of the person whose wrong is forgiven and whose sin is covered. Only after that does it tell how the forgiveness came.
Short verses for a card or an order of service: a child known by God before birth, and a love that reaches the next generation.
For you formed my inmost being.You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
God formed the inmost being and knit the child together in the womb. The line is spoken to God as thanks, and it leads into praise in the next verse.
I have relied on you from the womb.You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb.I will always praise you.
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
Trust that goes back to birth: I have relied on you from the womb. The writer, who is not named because the psalm has no heading, promises to keep praising.
But the LORD’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him,his righteousness to children’s children,
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
The LORD's loving kindness runs from everlasting to everlasting, and his righteousness reaches children's children. It names the generations, which suits a family occasion.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in,from this time forward, and forever more.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
A blessing that covers a whole life: your going out and your coming in, from now on and for ever.
For the baptism of children, the Lectionary for Mass offers Psalm 23, Psalm 27 or Psalm 34, according to the Catholic Lectionary Website. The refrains include the Lord is my shepherd and look to him, that you may be radiant with joy.
No psalm mentions baptism by name. Psalm 51:7, wash me and I will be whiter than snow, and Psalm 42:1, the deer longing for streams of water, are the closest in picture.
Psalm 29, in Year A of the Lectionary for Mass, according to the Catholic Lectionary Website. Psalm 29:3 says the LORD's voice is on the waters.
The 2026 USCCB readings set Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 after the seventh reading when baptism is celebrated, with the refrain like a deer that longs for running streams.
Psalm 121:8 and Psalm 103:17 are short and look ahead to a whole life. Psalm 139:13 suits an infant baptism because it speaks of a child formed in the womb.
Psalms for KidsPsalms for Forgiveness and RepentancePsalms for Blessing and FavorPsalms for Family and HomePsalms for Easter and Holy WeekPsalms about Salvation