The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:2
Words: John G. Fleet, The Church Sunday School Hymn Book (London: Church Sunday School Institute, 1848).
Music: Leslie H. D. Leslie, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Leslie’s full name, or where to get a good photo of him or Fleet,
Words are things of little cost,
Quickly spoken, quickly lost;
We forget them, but they stand
Witnesses at God’s right hand,
And their testimony bear
For us or against us there,
For us or against us there.
Oh, how often ours have been
Idle words, and words of sin!
Words of anger, scorn and pride,
Or desire our faults to hide,
Envious tales, or strife unkind,
Leaving bitter thoughts behind,
Leaving bitter thoughts behind.
Grant us, Lord, from day to day,
Strength to watch and grace to pray;
May our lips, from sin set free,
Love to speak and sing of Thee,
Till in Heav’n we learn to raise
Hymns of everlasting praise,
Hymns of everlasting praise.