Bible Readings for the Sick and Dying

In 1983, the second English translation of the pastoral care rites was released for liturgical and pastoral ministry. These rites are a collection of prayers and rituals for believers who are sick or dying, and also for their loved ones. There is another page on this site which details a close-up examination of the pastoral care rites.

This site is also home to a series on the Scripture readings which could be used in visits to ill persons and those who are dying. They certainly could be used by the sick who are contemplating the meaning of faith in their experiences of infirmity. The links below will send you directly to each post. Most of these readings are brief, and address one of the possible Judeo-Christian approaches to the mystery of human suffering and mortality.

Old Testament readings:

• • 1 Kings 19:1-8
  • 2 Kings 20:1-6
  • Job 3:1-3
  • Job 7:1-4
  • Job 7:12-21
  • Job 19:23-27
  • Wisdom 9:9-11 longing to know God’s wisdom
  • Sirach 38:1-9
  • Isaiah 35:1-10 (in three parts, verses 1-2, then verses 3-6a, and verses 6b-10)
  • Isaiah 52:13-53
  • Isaiah 61:1-3

Readings for the Easter Season:

• Acts 3:1-10
• Acts 3:11-16
• Acts 4:8-12
• Acts 13:32-39
• Acts 28:7-10

Psalms and Canticles:

• • Psalm 6
  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 25
  • Psalm 27:1, 4-5, 7-10
  • Psalm 34:2-7,10-13,17,19
  • Psalm 42:3, 5; Psalm 43:3-4
  • Psalm 63:2-9
  • Psalm 71:1-2, 5-6, 8-9, 14-15
  • Psalm 80
  • Psalm 86
  • Psalm 90:2-6, 9-10,12,14,16
  • Psalm 91, in three parts: verses 1-7, then verses 8-13, and verses 14-16
  • Psalm 102:2-3, 19-21, 24-28
  • Psalm 103:1-4. 11-18
  • Psalm 109:21-22, 23-24, 25-26, 30-31
  • Psalm 121
  • Psalm 123:1-2
  • Psalm 143:1-2, 5-6, 10-11
  • Isaiah 38:10-12. 16

New Testament Readings:

• Romans 8:14-17
• Romans 8:18-27
• Romans 8:31-35. 37-39
• Romans 14:7-9, 10b-12
• 1 Corinthians: 1:18-25
• 1 Corinthians 12:12, 22-27
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
• 2 Corinthians 5:1. 6-10
• 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
• Galatians 4:12-19
• Philippians 2:25-30
• Colossians 1:22-29
• Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
• James 5:13-16
• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• 1 John 3:1-2
• Revelation 21:1-7
• Revelation 22:17, 20-21

Gospel Readings:

• • Matthew 5:1-12
  • Matthew 8:1-4
  • Matthew 8:5-13
  • Matthew 8:14-17
  • Matthew 11:25-30
  • Matthew 15:29-31
  • Matthew 25:1-13
  • Matthew 25:31-40
  • Matthew 26:36-46
  • Mark 2:1-12
  • Mark 4:35-41
  • Mark 10:46-52
  • Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6
  • Mark 16:15-20
  • Luke 7:19-23
  • Luke 10:5-6, 8-9
  • Luke 10:25-37
  • Luke 11:5-13
  • Luke 12:35-44
  • Luke 18:9-14
  • Luke 22:39-46
  • Luke 23:44-49; 24:1-6
  • Luke 24:13-35, in three parts: verses 13-24, then verses 25-29, then verses 30-35
  • John 6:35-40
  • John 6:53-58
  • John 9:1-7
  • John 10:11-18
  • John 14:1-6, 23, 27
  • John 15:1-8
  • John 20:1-9