Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd;I shall lack nothing.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The first Lectionary refrain for Psalm 23 is this opening line. A second refrain draws on verse 4, the valley and the words you are with me.
Psalms for Funerals
The psalms two churches officially list for funerals, with the key verse from each and where the list comes from.
Two church books publish lists of psalms for funerals. The Catholic Lectionary for Mass gives ten responsorial psalms for Masses for the dead, as listed by the USCCB. The Episcopal Church's 1979 Book of Common Prayer names the psalms that are appropriate after the readings at a burial. Psalm 23, Psalm 27, Psalm 42, Psalm 116 and Psalm 130 appear on both lists.
The first section gives the ten Catholic responsorial psalms with one verse from each. The second covers the other psalms on the Episcopal list. Verse numbers here follow the World English Bible, and a missal or order of service may number some verses one higher. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Catholic responsorial psalms for funerals
These are the ten psalms the USCCB lists from the Lectionary for Mass, no. 1013, for Masses for the dead. The Lectionary sets one or two refrains for each. The verse below is the line the refrain echoes, or the psalm's opening line.
Psalm 25:1
To you, LORD, I lift up my soul.
Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
The first refrain for Psalm 25 lifts the soul to the LORD, as this verse does. The verses used at a funeral ask God to remember his mercy and loving kindness.
Psalm 27:13
I am still confident of this:I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
The second refrain for Psalm 27 speaks of seeing the good things of the Lord in the land of the living, close to this verse. The first refrain uses verse 1, the LORD is my light.
Psalm 42:2
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When shall I come and appear before God?
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
The refrain for Psalm 42 and 43 comes from this verse: a soul thirsting for the living God and asking when it will appear before him.
Psalm 63:1
God, you are my God.I will earnestly seek you.My soul thirsts for you.My flesh longs for you,in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
The refrain for Psalm 63 is a soul thirsting for God, as in this line, where the thirst is in a dry and weary land.
Psalm 103:8
The LORD is merciful and gracious,slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
The first refrain for Psalm 103 says the Lord is kind and merciful, close to this verse. The funeral verses go on to say our days are like grass and God's loving kindness is everlasting.
Psalm 116:9
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
The first refrain for Psalm 116 is walking in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living, as here. The funeral verses include verse 15, precious in the LORD's sight is the death of his saints.
Psalm 122:1
I was glad when they said to me,“Let’s go to the LORD’s house!”
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
A Song of Ascents about going up to the LORD's house. Both refrains for Psalm 122 speak of going to the house of the Lord with rejoicing.
Psalm 130:1
Out of the depths I have cried to you, LORD.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
Out of the depths. The first refrain for Psalm 130 uses this line, and the second speaks of hoping in the Lord and trusting in his word, close to verse 5.
Psalm 143:1
Hear my prayer, LORD.Listen to my petitions.In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
Hear my prayer, LORD. The refrain for Psalm 143 is this plea, and the funeral verses include asking to hear God's loving kindness in the morning.
Psalms for an Episcopal or Anglican funeral
The 1979 Book of Common Prayer, in the Burial of the Dead: Rite Two, names Psalms 42:1 to 7, 46, 90:1 to 12, 121, 130 and 139:1 to 11 after the Old Testament reading, and Psalms 23, 27, 106:1 to 5 and 116 after the New Testament reading. Those not already above are here.
Psalm 90:1
Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. The heading attributes Psalm 90 to Moses, and the portion named for burial runs to verse 12, teach us to count our days.
Psalm 46:2
Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes,though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
We will not be afraid, though the earth changes and the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas. The psalm opens by calling God our refuge and strength.
Psalm 121:8
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.
The last line of Psalm 121: the LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward and forever more.
Psalm 139:7
Where could I go from your Spirit?Or where could I flee from your presence?
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Where could I go from your Spirit? The portion named for burial, verses 1 to 11, goes on to say God is there even if I make my bed in Sheol.
Psalm 106:1
Praise the LORD!Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his loving kindness endures forever.
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Thanks are given because the LORD is good and his loving kindness endures forever. Only verses 1 to 5 of this long psalm are named for the burial service.
What is a responsorial psalm at a funeral?
Each psalm on the Catholic list comes with one or two short refrains, set by the Lectionary, alongside chosen verses. The USCCB page cites the Order of Christian Funerals as saying the psalms are used at many points in the funeral rites, including as responses to the readings, during processions and at the vigil for the deceased.
Psalm verses for a funeral card or memorial service
Short lines from the funeral psalms fit on a card. Psalm 23:6 speaks of dwelling in the LORD's house forever. Psalm 27:13 speaks of seeing the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 90:1 calls God our dwelling place for all generations, and Psalm 121:8 speaks of the going out and the coming in. Psalm 116:15, precious in the LORD's sight is the death of his saints, is among the Catholic funeral verses for Psalm 116.
Questions
What are the responsorial psalms for a Catholic funeral?
The Lectionary for Mass gives ten: Psalms 23, 25, 27, 42 and 43, 63, 103, 116, 122, 130 and 143, according to the USCCB list for Masses for the dead.
Which psalms are used at funerals in more than one church?
Psalm 23, Psalm 27, Psalm 42, Psalm 116 and Psalm 130 appear on both the Catholic Lectionary list and the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer list for burials.
What psalms are in the Book of Common Prayer burial service?
The 1979 Book of Common Prayer names Psalms 23, 27, 42, 46, 90, 106, 116, 121, 130 and 139, some of them in part, as appropriate after the readings.
Is there a funeral psalm for a mother or father?
The funeral lists do not assign psalms by who has died. Psalm 103:13, like a father has compassion on his children, is among the Catholic funeral verses for Psalm 103.
Which psalm says precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints?
Psalm 116:15. It is among the verses used with Psalm 116 on the Catholic funeral list.
Other moments
Psalms for Grief and the Loss of a Loved OnePsalms about DeathPsalms for the DyingPsalms of RemembrancePsalms for Comfort and StrengthPsalms of Hope
Sources
- Catholic funeral psalms: USCCB, Masses for the Dead: Responsorial Psalms, from the Lectionary for Mass, no. 1013
- Episcopal burial psalms: The Book of Common Prayer (1979), The Burial of the Dead: Rite Two
- Episcopal burial psalms: The Book of Common Prayer (The Episcopal Church), Burial of the Dead: Rite Two, Wikisource transcription
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