Funeral reading
Isaiah 43:1–3a
King James Bible
“Isaiah 43:1–3a” by King James Bible is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about 35 seconds 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
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
What it is about
"I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine."
Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: called by name · through the water and the fire · fear not · belonging.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Isaiah 43:1–3a” take to read aloud?
“Isaiah 43:1–3a” takes about 35 seconds 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 43:1–3a”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Isaiah 43:1–3a” runs about 35 seconds, 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 43:1–3a” 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.