Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Matthew 25:1–13

A Catholic funeral reading (Gospel), with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 2 minutes13 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
  2. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
  3. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
  4. 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
  5. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
  6. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
  7. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
  8. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
  9. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
  10. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
  11. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
  12. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
  13. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
  2. 2And five of them were foolish and five wise.
  3. 3But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them.
  4. 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
  5. 5And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
  6. 6And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh. Go ye forth to meet him.
  7. 7Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
  8. 8And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
  9. 9The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.
  10. 10Now whilst they went to buy the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage. And the door was shut.
  11. 11But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.
  12. 12But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.
  13. 13Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Matthew 25 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.