With lawless lips, unbridled tongue, In language, wanton or profane, Never, good Lord, from us be wrung A phrase to take Thy Name in vain. | 351 For every idle word to Thee, As each must give a strict account, Well might we tremble, could we see, Young as we are, the past amount. | Since, not by blasphemy alone, When sinners curse Thee to Thy face, A thought, a sign, a look, a tone, May cast upon Thy Name disgrace. | Thy name they also desecrate, Who read Thy Word, who pray, and praise, Yet not on Thee in spirit wait, Nor honour Thee in all their ways. | Thy Name!--O by our mouth, that word Be never spoken,--in our heart Conceived,--or by our ear be heard, Without remembering who Thou art:-- | God, from eternity the same, For ever blessing, ever blest; Holy and reverend is Thy Name, Why is it not by all confest? | Now, fire from heaven, Thy fire of love, To sanctify our speech be sent, Till, gather'd to the Church above, Pure love shall be our element. | |