Wedding reading
Romans 12:9–18
King James Bible
“Romans 12:9–18” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a wedding ceremony. 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
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
Romans is Paul’s letter addressed “to all that be in Rome, beloved of God”, and chapter 12 is where it turns from argument to practical instruction.
What it says
This is a list of short instructions for living with other people: love without pretending, hate what is evil, hold on to what is good, be kind and put others first, keep working hard, stay hopeful, be patient in trouble, keep praying, share with people in need and open your home. Rejoice with people who are happy and cry with people who are crying. Live in peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you. It reads like a household rulebook.
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Read at a wedding ceremony. Themes: hospitality · rejoicing together · weeping together · peace · how to live.
Who it suits
Couples who want a reading about how to treat each other on an ordinary Tuesday, and families with a strong tradition of hospitality. The line about opening your home suits a couple buying their first house or hosting the reception themselves. It is Christian in source but most of its instructions would sit in a secular ceremony.
Where it goes in the ceremony
The New Testament reading, or a second reading after a poem. A friend or relative who knows the couple’s home life reads it well. It sets up an address about the practical side of marriage.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 137 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 verses are clipped, almost telegram-like. Read each clause as its own short instruction with a small pause between, or it becomes a blur.
- “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” is the line people remember. Make it the clearest moment.
- The ending about living peaceably “if it be possible” carries a gentle joke. A small smile is fine.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Romans 12:9–18” take to read aloud?
“Romans 12:9–18” 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 “Romans 12:9–18”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Romans 12:9–18” 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 “Romans 12:9–18” 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 vows, the ring exchange, the pronouncement — and the timing that holds them together. Answer some questions about the couple and get the whole ceremony, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- Colossians 3:12–17a minute and a halfThe virtues to put on each day, from another of Paul’s letters
- Philippians 2:2–430 secondsA shorter passage on putting each other first
- 1 Peter 4:8–1025 secondsHospitality and love covering faults
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a45 secondsKing James Bible
- 1 Corinthians 13:1–13two minutesKing James Bible
- Genesis 2:18–24a minute and a halfKing James Bible