Linguae fraenum.
A Prayer for Pure Speech
The author petitions God to sanctify his words and meditations, seeking to avoid deceit and speak with divine wisdom.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart always be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen. Lord, keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceit, so that I may avoid evil and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. Amen. O Lord, give me the mouth of the righteous, so that it may speak with wisdom, and let my tongue talk about judgment. Amen.
The Discipline of the Tongue
A plea for the grace to exercise self-control and silence, especially when provoked by the ungodly.
Lord, I have said in your grace that I will pay attention to my ways so that I don't offend with my tongue. Give me, O give me that grace, so that I may take this heed and keep my mouth under control, as if it were bridled; especially when the ungodly are in my sight, no matter how much pain or grief it may cause me. Hear me and grant this, for the sake of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Guarding the Heart and Lips
The final petitions ask for divine protection over the mouth and heart to prevent stumbling and destruction.
May the voluntary offerings of my mouth be pleasing to you, O Lord, and teach me your judgments. Amen. O Lord, set a guard over my mouth, keep the door of my lips, and don’t let my heart be inclined to anything that is evil. Amen. Lord, set a guard over my mouth and a seal of wisdom on my lips, so that I don't suddenly stumble because of them, and that my tongue doesn't destroy me. Amen.
Read the original Latin
LEt the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be alwaies acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer. Amen.
Lord, keep my tongue from evil, and my lips that they speak no guile: that so I may eschew evil and do good, seek peace and ensue it. Amen.
O Lord, give me the mouth of the righteous, that it may be exercised in wisdom, and that my tongue may be talking of judgment. Amen.
Lord, I have said in thy grace, I will take heed unto my waies, that I offend not in my tongue. Give me, O give me that grace, that I may take this heed, that I may keep my mouth, as it were with a bridle; especially when the ungodly is in my sight, be it never so much pain or grief unto me. Hear me, and grant, even for Christ Iesus sake. Amen.
Let the freewill offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord, and teach me thy Judgments. Amen.
O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips, and let not my heart be inclined to any thing that is evil. Amen.
O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them; and that my tongue destroy me not. Amen.
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