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| 1 |
My little tongue, what work is yours?
What have you here to do?
Speak only kind and gentle words;
You must be pure and true.
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| 2 |
You must obey me, little tongue,
I want to rule you well;
You must not proud or scornful be,
Nor wicked stories tell.
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| 3 |
Of others' faults you need not speak,
Though you confess your own;
And guard against the whisper sly,
And check the angry tone.
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| 4 |
And when you speak of holy things,
Be careful what you say;
With reverence your hymns recite,
Be thoughtful when you pray.
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| 5 |
You must do more than this, my tongue:
To you some work is given
For those who shed their bitter tears,
Or wander far from heaven.
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| 6 |
True, loving comfort you can speak,
To those who weep and mourn;
And you can tell how bright they shine
Who unto Christ have gone.
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| 7 |
And you can teach the little ones,
The poor, the wicked, too,
How good and kind the Saviour is,
And what he loves to do.
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| 8 |
Oh, train my tongue, Lord Jesus, now,
In holy, blameless ways;
And may it in thy happy home
For ever sing thy praise.
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