Funeral reading
Isaiah 25:6–9
King James Bible
“Isaiah 25:6–9” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about a minute and a half read aloud, usually by a guest reader. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
Paul quotes this passage’s promise that death will be swallowed up in victory in 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter.
What it says
On a mountain the Lord makes a feast for all people: rich food, well-aged wine. On that same mountain God will destroy the veil that covers every nation. Death will be swallowed up for ever, God will wipe away tears from every face, and the people will say: this is our God, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice. It is a picture of a banquet at the end of all things.
The feast on the mountain, and tears wiped from every face. Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: death swallowed up · tears wiped away · a feast · hope.
Who it suits
Funerals for people who loved to cook, host and feed others, and families who want a joyful hope rather than a quiet one. It is often read at Catholic funerals and suits any service with a meal or reception afterwards.
Where it goes in the ceremony
As the first reading in a Catholic or Anglican funeral, or the reading that leads into the reception. A family member who shared the person’s table reads it well.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 144 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about a minute and a half of reading.
- The opening feast description is lavish. Enjoy it; it is supposed to make people think of a good meal.
- “Wipe away tears from off all faces” is the line people will cry at. Slow down and keep your voice steady.
- The last verse is a joyful declaration. Let the voice rise for it.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Isaiah 25:6–9” take to read aloud?
“Isaiah 25:6–9” takes about a minute and a half read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “Isaiah 25:6–9”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Isaiah 25:6–9” runs about a minute and a half, which is a manageable amount to hand to a friend or family member. Give them a printed copy of their own, in a size they can read without their glasses, and tell them where to stand and how you will introduce them.
Can “Isaiah 25:6–9” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- Revelation 21:1–5aa minute and a halfGod wiping away every tear, in the Bible’s last book
- 1 Corinthians 15:51–57a minute and a halfDeath swallowed up in victory
- Isaiah 40:28–3145 secondsAnother reading from Isaiah
- Lamentations 3:22–2635 secondsKing James Bible
- Ruth 1:16–17a30 secondsKing James Bible
- 1 John 4:7–12a minute and a halfKing James Bible