Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the gentle,for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful,for they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart,for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they shall be called children of God.Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:1-12, World English Bible Updated edition, which is in the public domain. The one change on this page and in the booklet: the closing quotation mark added at the end of verse 12, where Jesus' words continue beyond the extract.
Which funeral services use it
- Catholic, US (Lectionary for Masses for the Dead): Matthew 5:1-12a, as a Gospel.
- Catholic, England and Wales (Order of Christian Funerals): Matthew 5:1-12, as a Gospel.
- Church of England (Common Worship funeral readings): not on the list.
Where it comes in the service
At a Catholic funeral Mass the Gospel is the last reading, proclaimed by the deacon or priest after the Gospel acclamation. It is not on the Church of England's funeral list.
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 "Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12, read by Anne Hughes".
Add Matthew 5:1-12 to your booklet, typeset in full, with the order of service around it. You can see the whole booklet before paying anything.
Put Matthew 5:1-12 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.