Lyrics
Chorus
Keep your tongue from evil,
keep your tongue.
Keep your tongue from evil,
keep your tongue and your lips from speaking lies.
Spoken
grab hold of your tongue and repeat after me!
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Keep Your Tongue From Evil is a short children's song based on Psalm 34. The lyrics repeat the instruction to keep the tongue from evil, and extend it to keeping the tongue and lips from speaking lies. A spoken line at the end invites children to grab hold of their tongues and repeat the lesson.
The words come from Psalm 34:13, which urges keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from deceit, and the same lesson appears in James 3:5-10 on the power of the tongue and Ephesians 4:29 on wholesome speech. Proverbs 18:21 adds that life and death are in the power of the tongue. The short, repeated phrase and the playful spoken instruction make the song easy for children to remember and act out in Sunday school or at home. The tone is instructive and cheerful.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 34:13 The psalm urges keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit.
- James 3:5-10 The tongue is described as small but powerful.
- Ephesians 4:29 Believers are told to let no unwholesome talk come out of their mouths.