When We Speak

I wrote this hymn as a response to the sermon from a couple weeks ago which focused on a reading from James 3.

Tune: The Sacred Harp, see The Lutheran Service Book 848

Lord, our tongues are quick to evil
Lord, our words we use to harm
Lord, our thoughts are full of poison
And we spread them without care
We cut down our friends and neighbors
With no thought of how they'll feel
Our communion suffers greatly
When we don't use words to heal.

We forget our words have power
Sharper than the weapon's edge
We are careless when we use them
Between friends we drive a wedge
Lord, our comments hurt you also
With one tongue we curse and bless
It cannot serve different masters
Keep it tame to serve the best