'Set a guard over my mouth'

[Continuing the idea of a hymn for Sundays]

Little bit will turn the horse,
little rudder sets the course,
spark sets forest all aflame –
tiny tongue is hard to tame!

          Sh! are you lying?
          Sh! cross or fooling?
          Sh! God is hearing:
              let Jesus hold your tongue!

Drink is spoiled by poison drop.
Does your tongue know when to stop?
Little words can harm or hurt –
just like arrows, germs, or dirt.

Tune: 77 77 +   ‘Jesus loves me’ by W B Bradbury

'When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
Likewise the tongue is small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spaark. The tongue also is a fire …
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creaturs of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue …' James 3:3-8 in the Bible.

'Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.' Psalm 141:3

http://rhiannonshymns.co.uk/