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Funeral reading

Isaiah 43:1–3a

King James Bible

“Isaiah 43:1–3a” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about 40 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

about 40 secondsguest
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.

Where it comes from

In Isaiah 43 the words are addressed to Jacob and Israel by the God who says he created and formed them.

What it says

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; the rivers will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. It is a personal promise of presence in the worst moments, not a promise that the waters and fires will not come.

"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.

Who it suits

Funerals for firefighters, sailors and swimmers, and, handled carefully, a death by drowning or fire. It suits a family who wants to hear the person’s name honored, because of the line about being called by name. It also suits a service that recalls the person’s baptism.

Where it goes in the ceremony

Near the start, or immediately before the person’s name is spoken in the commendation. Read by a family member.

Reading it aloud

The text on this page is 87 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about 40 seconds of reading.

  • “I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” is the line. Pause before and after.
  • The waters and fire lines are parallel. Give them equal weight.
  • If the death involved water or fire, agree with the family beforehand that this reading is right; it can be either a comfort or a shock.

Questions about reading it aloud

How long does “Isaiah 43:1–3a” take to read aloud?

“Isaiah 43:1–3a” takes about 40 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 40 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

gutenberg.org

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.

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