Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Romans 8:14–23

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

Reads in about 2 minutes10 versesCatholic: New Testament

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King James Version

  1. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
  2. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
  3. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
  4. 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
  5. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
  6. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
  7. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
  8. 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
  9. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
  10. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 14For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
  2. 15For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear: but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father).
  3. 16For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God.
  4. 17And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
  5. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us.
  6. 19For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God.
  7. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope.
  8. 21Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
  9. 22For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now.
  10. 23And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Romans 8 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: New Testament (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1014)

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.