But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, World English Bible Updated edition, which is in the public domain.
Which funeral services use it
- Catholic, US (Lectionary for Masses for the Dead): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, as a second reading (4:13-14, 18 for a baptized child).
- Catholic, England and Wales (Order of Christian Funerals): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (4:13-14, 18 for a child).
- Church of England (Common Worship funeral readings): 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18.
Where it comes in the service
At a Catholic funeral Mass this is a second reading, read after the psalm and before the Gospel acclamation. In a Church of England funeral the Bible readings come in the readings and sermon part of the service.
At a Catholic Mass the reader uses the parish Lectionary, which is a different translation from the one printed here, and in the US its text may not be reproduced without permission. You may prefer to print only the reference and the reader in the running order, for example "Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, read by Anne Hughes".
Add 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 to your booklet, typeset in full, with the order of service around it. You can see the whole booklet before paying anything.
Put 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in my bookletAbout this translation
The words here are the World English Bible, a modern English translation whose translators dedicated it to the public domain, so it can be printed in a booklet in the US and the UK without permission or a fee. The King James Version is public domain in the US but is covered by Crown letters patent in the UK, which is why it is not used here. If your church prefers another translation, add it in step 5 with "Use your own words".
Funeral lists checked on September 28, 2026 against the USCCB, the Liturgy Office of England and Wales and the Church of England's Common Worship pages.