Scripture Verse

I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psalm 39:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­ian Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 105.

Music: Ayles­bu­ry (Camp) Har­vey C. Camp, in Bi­ble Songs (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­ian Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1879), num­ber 43 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Camp (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

I con­stant care will take,
Lest sin­ful words they hear;
My lips their si­lence shall not break
While wick­ed men are near.

I dumb and si­lent stood,
No words of mine were heard;
I e’en re­frained from speak­ing good,
Till sor­row’s deeps were stirred.

My heart was all on fire,
With burn­ing thoughts sup­pressed;
My tongue was loosed, my soul’s de­sire
I then to God ad­dressed.

My end, Lord, make me know,
My days, how soon they fail;
And to my thought­ful spir­it show
How weak I am and frail.

To Thy eter­nal thought
My days are but a span;
To Thee my years ap­pear as naught,
A breath at best is man.

Man lives in emp­ty show,
His anx­ious care is vain,
He hoards his wealth, and does not know
Who shall poss­ess his gain.