Scriptural Readings for Weddings
HEBREW SCRIPTURES
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
A Cord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Song of Songs 8:7, 5:1c
The Love that God has for Israel is like the Love between Spouses
A reading from the Song of Songs
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love all the wealth of one’s house,
it would be utterly scorned.
Eat, friends, drink,
and be drunk with love.
CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES
Mark 10:6-9
The Two Shall Become One Flesh
A reading from the Gospel of Mark
Jesus said, "From the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
Romans 12:9-16
Qualities of a True Christian
A reading from Paul's letter to the people of Rome
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
Romans 13:8-10
Love Fulfills the Law
A reading from Paul's letter to the people of Rome
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Or this excerpt:
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The ten commandments are all summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13
The Preeminence of Love
A reading from Paul's first letter to the people of Corinth
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
In the end, these three will last: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.
Colossians 3:12-17
Clothe yourselves with Love
A reading from Paul's letter to the Colossians
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 John 4:16
God is Love
A reading from the first letter of John
God is love, and you who abide in love, abide in God, and God in you.