How to choose a verse
Start with what you want mourners to feel: comfort in grief, hope of heaven, peace, or gratitude for a faithful life. Then think about the person. A verse they underlined, quoted, or had read at a family wedding is almost always the right one.
Length matters on a 2.5″×4.25″ card. One to three verses fit comfortably at a readable size; a whole psalm works only in smaller type. Verses below are quoted from the King James Version, which is in the public domain. If your family reads a modern translation such as the NIV or ESV, you can paste that wording instead as a custom prayer.
Verses of comfort for those who mourn
- “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4
- “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” — Psalm 34:18
- “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
- “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1
- “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee.” — Isaiah 41:10
- “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.” — Revelation 21:4
- “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” — Psalm 23:4
- “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5
Verses about heaven and eternal life
- “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” — John 11:25
- “Let not your heart be troubled… In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.” — John 14:1–2
- “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:14
- “Neither death, nor life… shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38–39
- “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” — 2 Corinthians 5:8
- “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” — 1 Corinthians 15:55
- “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” — Psalm 116:15
- “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Philippians 1:21
Verses of peace and rest
- “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
- “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14:27
- “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8
- “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.” — Numbers 6:24–25
- “To every thing there is a season… a time to be born, and a time to die.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1–2
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” — Psalm 23:1–2
Verses for a faithful life well lived
- “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
- “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:21
- “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” — Micah 6:8
- “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12
- “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8
Verses for a mother or a father
For a mother
- “Her children arise up, and call her blessed.” — Proverbs 31:28
- “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” — Proverbs 31:25
- “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” — Proverbs 31:29
For a father
- “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” — Proverbs 20:7
- “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15
- “Be strong and of a good courage… for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” — Joshua 1:9
Short one-line verses
When the back also needs a personal message, a one-line verse leaves room for both.
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” — Psalm 23:1
- “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4
- “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:21
- “Here am I; send me.” — Isaiah 6:8
- “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
Fitting a verse on the card
Put the reference on its own line under the verse, and use an ellipsis (…) to shorten a long passage rather than shrinking the text. Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer are built into our prayer cards, already sized to fit. For other verses, the live preview shows exactly how your text sits before you order.
Looking for wording beyond scripture? See what to write on a memorial card and short poems and verses.
Put the verse on a card
Upload a photo, paste the verse, and preview both sides before you order. Printed on premium matte cardstock and shipped fast.
Design a prayer cardFrequently asked questions
What is the most popular Bible verse for a memorial card?
Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd”) is the most common, followed by John 14:1–2 (“In my Father’s house are many mansions”), 2 Timothy 4:7, Matthew 5:4, and Revelation 21:4.
What is a short Bible verse for a funeral card?
Good one-line choices are “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4), “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21), and “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Which Bible translation should I use on a memorial card?
Use the one your loved one read. The King James Version is traditional and in the public domain; many families prefer the NIV or ESV for modern wording. You can paste any translation as custom text.
How long can a verse be on a prayer card?
One to three verses fit comfortably on a 2.5″×4.25″ card at a readable size. Longer passages such as all of Psalm 23 fit in smaller type; preview the card to check.