Funeral Chaplain

¹⁷ David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan,

²³ "Saul and Jonathan—
       in life they were loved and gracious,
       and in death they were not parted.

²⁵ I know that my Redeemer lives,
       and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

 ²⁶ And after my skin has been destroyed,
       yet in my flesh I will see God;

 ²⁷ I myself will see him
       with my own eyes—I, and not another.

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
       She is worth far more than rubies.

 ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
       and lacks nothing of value.

 ¹² She brings him good, not harm,
       all the days of her life.

 ¹ There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
       a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 ⁶ On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
       a feast of rich food for all peoples,
       a banquet of aged wine—

¹ In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
       We have a strong city;
       God makes salvation
       its walls and ramparts.

 ¹ Comfort, comfort my people,
       says your God.

 ² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
       and proclaim to her
       that her hard service has been completed,
       that her sin has been paid for,
       that she has received from the LORD's hand
       double for all her sins.

 ³ A voice of one calling:
       "In the desert prepare
       the way for the LORD ;

²⁸ Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,

¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

⁶ "This is what the LORD says—
       Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
       I am the first and I am the last;

 ¹ The righteous perish,
       and no one ponders it in his heart;
       devout men are taken away,
       and no one understands
       that the righteous are taken away
       to be spared from evil.

 ² Those who walk uprightly
       enter into peace;
       they find rest as they lie in death.

 ¹⁷ "Behold, I will create
       new heavens and a new earth.
       The former things will not be remembered,