Guard Well thy Lips

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 25, 1877

Guard Well thy Lips.

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; oh, 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!

Think on thy parting hour; ere long The approach of death may chain thy tongue, And powerless all attempts be found, To articulate one meaning sound.

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