For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
a time to be born,and a time to die;a time to plant,and a time to pluck up that which is planted;a time to kill,and a time to heal;a time to break down,and a time to build up;a time to weep,and a time to laugh;a time to mourn,and a time to dance;a time to cast away stones,and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace,and a time to refrain from embracing;a time to seek,and a time to lose;a time to keep,and a time to cast away;a time to tear,and a time to sew;a time to keep silence,and a time to speak;a time to love,and a time to hate;a time for war,and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, World English Bible Updated edition, which is in the public domain.
Which funeral services use it
- Catholic, US (Lectionary for Masses for the Dead): not on the list.
- Catholic, England and Wales (Order of Christian Funerals): not on the list.
- Church of England (Common Worship funeral readings): not on the list.
- Shown among popular choices on the Church of England's own funeral planning page.
It is not one of the Catholic funeral readings and is not in the Church of England’s funeral list, but the Church of England’s own funeral planning page shows it among popular choices.
Where it comes in the service
It suits a service where the family chooses the readings freely, such as a celebration of life, a civil ceremony or a memorial service, and it can be read by a family member or friend.
Add Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 to your booklet, typeset in full, with the order of service around it. You can see the whole booklet before paying anything.
Put Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 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.