Readings for a Funeral Service: Scripture, Poems and How to Choose

A funeral reading is a short passage, usually scripture, a poem or a piece of prose, read aloud by a family member, friend or officiant. Most services have one to three of them, and each usually takes a minute or two. Start by asking the officiant what is allowed, then choose words that sound like the person and that the reader can say comfortably.

What counts as a funeral reading?

Anything read aloud as part of the service counts. That can be a psalm, a poem, a passage from a novel, a letter the person wrote, or a blessing. Readings are different from a eulogy, which is a personal tribute. They are also different from a prayer. Our guide to prayers for a funeral service covers those.

Readings do several jobs. They give the family something to say when words are hard, they set the tone, and they give guests a moment to sit with their feelings. You do not need many. One well-chosen reading is enough for a short service.

Does a church or officiant set the rules?

Often, yes. In a faith service the clergy or celebrant shapes the order and may limit what is read.

• Catholic funeral Mass. The readings are from Scripture, and families usually choose them with the parish staff. Many parishes also allow a family member or friend to say a few words of remembrance, but when and how varies, so ask the parish. A favorite poem usually fits better at the vigil or at the gathering afterward. Our guide to the Catholic funeral Mass explains the order.
• Other Christian churches. Many are flexible. A pastor may allow a poem alongside scripture. Ask early and share the text.
• Other faiths. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and other traditions have their own texts, prayers and customs, and practice varies between communities. Ask the clergy or the family's faith leader. See religious funeral services for an overview.
• Secular or celebrant-led services. You usually have a free hand, and the celebrant can help with wording. Our guide to secular and humanist funerals explains how these services are shaped.

What scripture is often chosen?

These passages are widely used in Christian services. Different traditions use different translations, so ask which one your church uses.

Older translations such as the King James Version are in the public domain in the US, so you can print them. Modern translations are usually copyrighted. For example, Crossway, the publisher of the ESV, lets you quote up to 500 verses without written permission, as long as they are not more than half of any one book of the Bible or 25 percent or more of the work, and it asks for a copyright notice (church bulletins and similar non-sale materials need only the initials ESV). Check the publisher's rules for the version you use.

What poems and secular readings work well?

There is no list that suits everyone. The best choices feel like the person. Here are some ideas to explore, by mood:

• For loss: W. H. Auden's "Funeral Blues," Emily Dickinson's short poems on death, or Christina Rossetti's "Remember."
• For peace and hope: Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar," which dates from 1889, or Henry Scott Holland's "Death Is Nothing at All."
• For a life well lived: a passage from the person's favorite author, or a short piece by a poet who shared their love of nature, travel or humor.
• From the person: a letter, a recipe, a toast they gave, or lines from a favorite song read as spoken words.

Poetry anthologies and library staff can help you find poems by theme. A librarian can also help you find out who wrote a piece and when it was first published.

If you are not sure how to balance the service, one approach is to include one reading that acknowledges the loss, one that celebrates the person, and one that looks toward comfort or hope. You do not need all three.

Can you print or record the reading?

Reading aloud and printing are different questions, because printing a poem in a program, posting it, or including it in a video usually means copying it.

• Public domain. The US Copyright Office says that for works created after 1978, copyright generally lasts for the author's life plus 70 years. Works published in the US in 1930 or earlier are in the public domain as of 2026, according to Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain. Many well-known modern poems and Bible translations are still protected.
• Places of worship. US copyright law has an exemption for performing religious works, including nondramatic literary works, in the course of services at a place of worship. It covers the performance, not copying the text into other materials.
• If a text is protected. Ask the publisher or the poet's estate for permission, use a short excerpt with credit where the rules allow, or pick a public domain piece.

This is general information, not legal advice. If you are publishing something widely, such as a recorded service posted online, it is worth getting permission for protected pieces. Our guide to a funeral order of service covers printing the words in a program.

How do you prepare the reader?

1. Choose someone who wants to do it. Do not press anyone. Offer the officiant as a backup.
2. Give a printed copy in large type. Reading from a phone can go wrong if a notification appears or the screen dims. A printed page is steadier.
3. Practice aloud. Read the piece slowly at least twice, and mark where to pause.
4. Name a backup reader. Someone who has a copy and sits nearby can step in if emotion takes over.
5. Tell the reader where to stand and how the microphone works.

Our guide to eulogy delivery tips has more on speaking in front of a room.

Where do readings fit in the service?

Every service is different, and the officiant may set the order. A common shape is opening words, a reading, music, a second reading or a tribute, and closing words. In a graveside service, one short reading or prayer is usually enough. A scattering ceremony or a memorial gathering can be more informal, and guests can each read a line. Ask your officiant for the running order first.

What mistakes should you avoid?

• Choosing too late. Give the officiant and the reader time to look at the text.
• Picking a piece that does not fit the room. A joke that suits a celebration of life at a friend's home may feel wrong in a formal church service.
• Choosing a piece that is too long. If a passage runs on, use an excerpt.
• Skipping the full text. Read the whole poem, not just a famous line. Some pieces have verses that change the meaning.
• Not proofreading. Check the wording against a reliable copy. Online versions often have errors.

What to do next

1. Ask the officiant what kinds of readings they allow and how long they can be.
2. Pick one or two readings and decide who will read them.
3. Check the text for copyright if it will be printed or recorded.
4. Give the reader a printed copy and name a backup.