Psalms for Burial of the Dead

Psalm 42 Quemadmodum

Like as the hart desireth the water brooks, *
so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God; *
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, *
while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?

Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself; *
for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into
the house of God;

In the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *
among such as keep holy-day.

Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why art thou so disquieted within me?

O put thy trust in God; *
for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my
countenance, and my God.

Psalm 46 Deus noster refugium

God is our hope and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof rage and swell, *
and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.

There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, *
the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest.

God is in the midst of her,
therefore shall she not be removed; *
God shall help her, and that right early.

Be still then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations,
and I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm 90 Domine, refugium

LORD, thou hast been our refuge, *
from one generation to another.

Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever the earth and the world were made, *
thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.

Thou turnest man to destruction; *
again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday
when it is past, *
and as a watch in the night.

As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep, *
and fade away suddenly like the grass.

In the morning it is green, and groweth up; *
but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.

For we consume away in thy displeasure, *
and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.

Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee, *
and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

For when thou art angry all our days are gone; *
we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
The days of our age are threescore years and ten;
and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, *
yet is their strength then but labor and sorrow,
so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.

So teach us to number our days, *
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 121 Levavi oculos

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; *
from whence cometh my help?

My help cometh even from the LORD, *
who hath made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, *
and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD himself is thy keeper; *
the LORD is thy defence upon thy right hand;

So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, *
neither the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil; *
yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 130 De profundis

Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; *
Lord, hear my voice.

O let thine ears consider well *
the voice of my complaint.

If thou, LORD, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, *
O Lord, who may abide it?

For there is mercy with thee, *
therefore shalt thou be feared.

I look for the LORD; my soul doth wait for him; *
in his word is my trust.

My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch;
I say, before the morning watch.

O Israel, trust in the LORD,
for with the LORD there is mercy, *
and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel *
from all his sins.

Psalm 139 Domine, probasti

O LORD, thou hast searched me out, and known me. *
Thou knowest my down sitting and mine up rising;
thou understandest my thoughts long before.

Thou art about my path, and about my bed, *
and art acquainted with all my ways.

For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, *
but thou, O LORD, knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, *
and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; *
I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? *
or whither shall I go then from thy presence?

If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; *
if I go down to hell, thou art there also.

If I take the wings of the morning, *
and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there also shall thy hand lead me, *
and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me, *
then shall my night be turned to day.

Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee,
but the night is as clear as day; *
the darkness and light to thee are both alike.

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me

The LORD is my shepherd; *
therefore can I lack nothing.

He shall feed me in a green pasture, *
and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

He shall convert my soul, *
and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his
Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; *
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them
that trouble me; *
thou hast anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.

Surely thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life; *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 King James Version

The LORD is my shepherd; *
I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul; *
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; *
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
mine enemies; *
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 27 Dominus illuminatio

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?

One thing have I desired of the LORD, which I will require, *
even that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the
days of my life,
to behold the fair beauty of the LORD, and to visit his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; *
yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me,
and set me up upon a rock of stone.

And now shall he lift up mine head *
above mine enemies round about me.

Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with
great gladness; *
I will sing and speak praises unto the LORD.

Hearken unto my voice, O LORD, when I cry unto thee; *
have mercy upon me, and hear me.

My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face. *
Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

O hide not thou thy face from me, *
nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.

I should utterly have fainted, *
but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the LORD in
the land of the living.

O tarry thou the LORD’s leisure; *
be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart;
and put thou thy trust in the LORD.

Psalm 106 Confitemini Domino

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, *
and his mercy endureth for ever.

Who can express the noble acts of the LORD, *
or show forth all his praise?

Blessed are they that alway keep judgment, *
and do righteousness.

Remember me, O LORD, according to the favor that thou
bearest unto thy people; *
O visit me with thy salvation;

That I may see the felicity of thy chosen, *
and rejoice in the gladness of thy people,
and give thanks with thine inheritance.

Psalm 116 Dilexi, quoniam

My delight is in the LORD, *
because he hath heard the voice of my prayer;

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, *
therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The snares of death compassed me round about, *
and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.

I found trouble and heaviness;
then called I upon the Name of the LORD; *
O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; *
yea, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserveth the simple; *
I was in misery, and he helped me.

Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul, *
for the LORD hath rewarded thee.

And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death, *
mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the LORD *
in the land of the living.

I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people; *
right dear in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.