GUARD WELL THY LIPS

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1867

“GUARD WELL THY LIPS.”

“He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life.”

GUARD well thy lips; none, none can know What evils from the tongue may flow; What guilt, what grief may be incurred, By one incautious, hasty word.

“Be slow to speak,” look well within, To check what there may lead to sin, And pray unceasingly for aid, Lest, unawares, thou be betrayed.

Condemn not—judge not,—not to man Is given his brother’s faults to scan; One task is thine, and one alone; To search out and subdue thine own.

Indulge no murmurings—O restrain Those lips, so ready to complain; And if they can be numbered, count Of one day’s mercies the amount!

Shun vain discussions, trifling themes; Dwell not on earthly hopes or schemes; Let words of wisdom, meekness, love, Thy heart’s true renovation prove.

Set God before thee; every word Thy lips pronounce, by him is heard! Oh! couldst thou realize this thought, What care, what caution would be taught.

“The time is short”—this day may be The very last assigned to thee; So speak, that should’st thou ne’er speak more, Thou may’st not this day’s work deplore.