The best thing about designing your own funeral prayer cards is that you can customize it with any Bible verse, prayer, or quote.
The original purpose of a funeral prayer card is to honor the memory of the departed loved one through prayer. The card is a small keepsake that family members and friends can take home from the memorial service and use in their prayers for the grieving family while remembering the life and legacy of the deceased.
Nowadays, funeral prayer cards are also called memorial cards or remembrance cards. The card can include prayers, but it can also include uplifting Scriptures, comforting quotes, photos of the loved one, or just about anything else you can think of.
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25 Best Bible Verses for Funeral Prayer Cards
God’s Word gives light in the darkest valley, healing for the broken heart, and hope for even the most troublesome times.
For those seeking to honor the faith of their loved one, celebrate the memory of happy times, and encourage family and friends to pray, there’s nothing better than the Scriptures.
So in keeping with the original purpose of the cards, here are 25 uplifting Bible verses for funeral prayer cards.
Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
Urns Made in the USA
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Colossians 3:1-4
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 63:3
Because your loving kindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise you.
Isaiah 57:1–2
The righteous man perishes,
and no one lays it to heart;
devout men are taken away,
while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
he enters into peace;
they rest in their beds
who walk in their uprightness.
Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Isaiah 60:19–22
The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.
Then all your people will be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor.
The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the Lord;
in its time I will do this swiftly.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Psalm 9:9–10
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
John 6:39–40
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Psalm 25:8–10
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalm 25:16–17
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Romans 8:37–39
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 31:3, 5
You are my rock and my fortress,
therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Into your hand I commend my spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 116:3–7
The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
2 Timothy 4:7–8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
For a funeral service, this text is often adapted to read “She/he fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith…” etc.
John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
1 Corinthians 15:51–53
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
Matthew 11:28–30
Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Isaiah 40:28–31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Luke 18:16
Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Hymn Verses for Funeral Cards
While it is always a wonderful option to use Bible verses for funeral prayer cards, hymns often encapsulate the meaning of a Scripture passage in a prayerful, poetic way. Consider any of these Christian hymn selections for your loved one’s funeral card.
Come to Me by Charlotte Elliot
With tearful eyes I look around;
Life seems a dark and stormy sea;
Yet, midst the gloom, I hear a sound,
A heavenly whisper, “Come to Me.”
It tells me of a place of rest;
It tells me where my soul may flee:
O to the weary, faint, oppressed,
How sweet the bidding, “Come to Me.”
“Come, for all else must fail and die;
Earth is no resting-place for thee,
Heavenward direct thy weeping eye,
I am thy Portion; come to Me.”
O voice of mercy! voice of love!
In conflict, grief, and agony,
Support me, cheer me from above,
And gently whisper, “Come to Me.”
Sing We the Song of Those Who Stand by James Montgomery
Sing we the song of those who stand
Around the eternal throne,
Of every kindred, clime, and land,
A multitude unknown.
Life’s poor distinctions vanish here:
To-day the young, the old,
Our Saviour and his flock appear
One Shepherd and one fold.
Toil, trial, sufferings still await
On earth the pilgrim throng;
Yet learn we in our low estate
The Church Triumphant’s song.
“Worthy the Lamb for sinners slain,”
Cry the redeemed above;
“Blessing and honor to obtain,
And everlasting love!”
“Worthy the Lamb,” on earth we sing,
“Who died our souls to save!
Henceforth, O Death! where is thy sting?
Thy victory, O Grave!”
Look Up to Jesus by Eliza Hewitt
Look up to Jesus and, with loving trust,
Keep singing, still singing;
He’ll safely guide us, he is wise and just;
Trust Jesus, the Saviour King.
Refrain:
Sing on thro’ sunny days,
Sing on in darken’d ways,
Sing, sing;
Sing on, his name is love;
Sing on, he reigns above;
Sing, sing.
Your song may cheer a heavy-laden heart,
Keep singing, still singing;
And stronger faith and brighter hope impart,
In Jesus, the Saviour King.
[Refrain]
Forgetting not the blessings of the past,
Keep singing, still singing;
In summer bloom, or ‘mid the wintry blast,
Trust Jesus, the Saviour King.
[Refrain]
God Is Love by John Bowring
God is Love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes and woe He lightens:
God is wisdom, God is love.
Chance and change are busy ever;
Man decays, and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never:
God is wisdom, God is love.
E’en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the gloom His brightness streameth;
God is wisdom, God is love.
He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Everywhere His glory shineth;
God is wisdom, God is love.
Abide with Me by Henry Francis Lyte
I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless,
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right by Samuel Rodigast
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
his holy will abideth;
I will be still, whate’er he doth,
and follow where he guideth.
He is my God; though dark my road,
he holds me that I shall not fall:
wherefore to him I leave it all.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
he never will deceive me;
he leads me by the proper path;
I know he will not leave me.
I take, content, what he hath sent;
his hand can turn my griefs away,
and patiently I wait his day.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
though now this cup, in drinking,
may bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
and pain and sorrow shall depart.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
here shall my stand be taken;
though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
yet am I not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
he holds me that I shall not fall:
and so to him I leave it all.
Popular Poems for Memorial Prayer Cards
There are many popular poems and other types of funeral prayers or sentiments used on printed cards.
While I would always encourage you to use the text that will most honor your departed family member, for Christians who are committed to faithfully holding onto the truths of Scripture, we want to ensure that our prayers accurately reflect what God has revealed.
Let’s take a look at some texts that are frequently printed on these cards or in the funeral program.
God’s Garden: “God Only Takes the Best”
You’ll find variations on this poem everywhere. It’s a sweet sentiment: “A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.”
While there’s no doubt that your loved one was amazing, the Bible is clear that God is sovereign over life and death for all people (Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:6).
And not only does he take the best, he also takes the worst — remember, Paul, perhaps the greatest Christian who ever lived, said that he was the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Great or not, best or worst, the God of the Bible rules over all and chooses to show mercy to whomever he will (Romans 9:18). That’s the good news!
So, if you’re a Christian, I would encourage you to choose a different poem that more accurately reflects the teaching of Scripture.
Footprints in the Sand
You know this poem for sure:
One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord,
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there was only one.
This bothered me because I noticed
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me, Lord, that if I followed you,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed during the most trying periods
Of my life there has only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
Have you not been there for me?
The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
It was then that I carried you.’
Response:
Someone might, perhaps, criticize this poem for what it doesn’t talk about (the Gospel, sin and repentance, God’s glory and majesty) or for its perspective (“God as my walking buddy,” or the author seeming to hold God to account), or for its sentimentality.
But I like the poem.
Criticizing a short work of poetry for what it doesn’t talk about is akin to judging Psalm 88 for not ending on a word of hope, like the rest of the Psalms do. And we, as finite beings, can only have one perspective at a time, even if that perspective seems to question God (see Psalm 13) or conclude that he is “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
In point of fact, that’s exactly why the poem works: Because it communicates something true about the Lord.
So ignore anyone who might look down their nose at this poem. I’m no literary expert, so I can’t tell you if it’s “great poetry” or not. I just know it says something — not everything, but something — that is true.
Our Family Chain Is Broken
This contemporary poem by Ron Tranmer is hugely popular. Theologically, the line in the third stanza that claims the departed person is “always at our side” is not accurate; according to Paul, when we depart we will “be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23).
However, in context the author may be saying that the person is near by virtue of the memory of their life and love. If that’s how you read it, I think a little poetic license is fine.
Immortality (Do Not Stand By My Grave and Weep)
There are a number of reasons to avoid this poem. First, the title of the poem tells people not to grieve for them, yet the Psalms are full of prayers of grief and sorrow.
Second, the Bible identifies people with their physical bodies and offers us hope in a physical, bodily resurrection. That’s why 1 Thessalonians 4:15 speaks of the dead as those who have “fallen asleep.” But the poem says, “I am not there, I do not sleep.”
Worse yet, the poem claims that the deceased person becomes “the thousand winds that blow” and claims that they are “the swift, up-flinging rush of quiet birds in circling flight.” That’s pure mysticism, not biblical Christianity.
The final line is the worst one yet. The speaker denies the reality of death and the grave by claiming “I am not there, I did not die.”
But the Scriptures say that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). In fact, our only hope comes in recognizing the reality of death — and Christ’s victory over that death:
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:54–57
Instead of this poem, I’d encourage the faithful Christian to consider one of the Scriptures above, a timeless hymn, or one of these comforting sympathy prayers.
More Scriptures for Funeral Cards
May God use these resources to comfort, encourage, and point you to Christ in this time of grief.
For further inspiration, I’ve also put together lists of the best funeral Bible verses and the most comforting Scriptures passages for those who grieve.
Let’s close with a benedictory prayer from Ephesians 3:14–21:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Read Next: The Best Prayer for a Funeral Card (+ 50 More Verses)
