Low-key Bible verses for your secular or interfaith wedding ceremony that don’t go overboard on the ‘God stuff’ 

 

Ok, here’s the deal: You’re not religious, but your family is as Christian as it gets, and you don’t want them storming out of your wedding ceremony just because there wasn’t enough Jesus in the mix. 

 

You need some low-key Bible verses that don’t make you or your soon-to-be spouse cringe… while appeasing your conservative wedding guests and keeping the peace. 

 

Believe it or not, this comes up a lot. 

 

And it’s not just an issue for nonreligious and atheist couples. It’s a common consideration for interfaith couples, too, because striking a balance between wildly different faith traditions during a wedding ceremony can be tough.  

 

Related: Your Religion, My Religion, or No Religion - Make Sure Your Officiant Knows!

 

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of low-key Bible verses that go easy on the fire-and-brimstone angle. Some of them mention God, but most of them don’t (at least not directly). These quotes are perfect as a slightly-religious addition to your mostly-secular or interfaith ceremony.

 

This scripture focuses on love, family, and community – which are what weddings and marriage are all about. As you read them, remember that there are dozens of versions of the The Holy Bible – if one of the verses below comes close, but the wording isn’t quite right, try a different translation.

 

Related: Who Can Officiate a Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony?

 

 

Photo: kmatija / iStock

10 Low-Key Bible Verses for Nonreligious & Interfaith Weddings

 

1. Song of Songs 8:7

 

“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.” (New International Version)

2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

 

“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?” (New King James Version)

3. Romans 12:9

 

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (New International Version)

Alternate Translation of Romans 12:9

 

“Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.” (The Message Bible)

4. Proverbs 3:3

 

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (New International Version)

5. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (English Standard Version)

 

Alternate translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

“Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride; Love's ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it takes no account of evil; It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true; Love has the power of undergoing all things, having faith in all things, hoping all things…love has no end.” (The Bible in Basic English)

6. Song of Solomon 4:9

 

“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.” (English Standard Version)

7. Song of Solomon 5:1 

 

“I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!” (English Standard Version)

8. Philippians 4:8

 

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (New Living Translation)

9. James 1:2-4

 

“My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing.” (Common English Bible)

10.  Ephesians 4:2

 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (New International Version)

Alternate Translation of Ephesians 4:2

 

“And mark that you do this with humility and discipline - not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love.” (The Message Bible)

 

 

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