Funeral reading
Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11
King James Bible
“Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11” by 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
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
What it is about
For a death that shook the ground. "Be still, and know."
Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: refuge · strength · be still · a sudden death · shaken ground.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11” take to read aloud?
“Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11” 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 “Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11” 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 “Psalm 46:1–7, 10–11” 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
- Psalm 27:1, 4, 13–1440 secondsKing James Bible
- Eshet Chayil — A Woman of Valour (Proverbs 31, JPS 1917)55 secondsJPS 1917 translation
- Ruth 1:16–17a30 secondsKing James Bible
- 1 John 4:7–1255 secondsKing James Bible
- Psalm 10035 secondsKing James Bible
- Proverbs 31:10–12, 25–31a minute and a halfKing James Bible