Read & explore together
A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire
This prayer from Sirach asks God for help with words, thoughts, attitudes, and desires. It shows that harmful speech and inward sins are connected, and it asks for wise restraint before sin grows.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
These verses come from Sirach, a book in the Catholic additional books. The passage is written as prayer, speaking directly to the Lord as “Father and Master” and “Father and God”. It moves from the mouth and tongue to thought, heart, eyes, desire, gluttony, lust, and the mind.
Sirach 22:27–23:6Main takeaway
This prayer teaches that a person may ask God for wise control over speech, inner thinking, and bodily desires so that sin does not spread.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A watch over the mouthThe prayer begins with speech. The writer asks for “a watch” over the mouth and “a seal of shrewdness” on the lips.
Explanation
The prayer begins with speech. The writer asks for “a watch” over the mouth and “a seal of shrewdness” on the lips. The picture is of guarded words, not careless talk. The reason is clear: the tongue can lead a person into ruin and even “destroy” them.
02God asked to rule life and thoughtThe prayer addresses God as “Lord, Father and Master of my life”. The speaker asks not to be abandoned and then asks for “scourges” over thought and “a discipline of wisdom” over the heart.
Explanation
The prayer addresses God as “Lord, Father and Master of my life”. The speaker asks not to be abandoned and then asks for “scourges” over thought and “a discipline of wisdom” over the heart. This is strong language for correction, showing a desire for wisdom that does not excuse error or sin.
03Why this discipline is neededThe next verse explains the danger. If sin is not checked, “errors might be multiplied” and sins may increase.
Explanation
The next verse explains the danger. If sin is not checked, “errors might be multiplied” and sins may increase. The result described here is falling before adversaries and enemies rejoicing. The prayer treats sin as something that grows if it is left unrestrained.
04From proud eyes to bodily desiresThe prayer then names specific dangers. “Haughty eyes” points to pride in one’s outlook or attitude.
Explanation
The prayer then names specific dangers. “Haughty eyes” points to pride in one’s outlook or attitude. The speaker also asks God to turn away “evil desire” and not let “gluttony” or “lust” overtake him. The final request is not to be given over to “a shameless mind”.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What images are used to describe control over speech, and what danger do they answer?
Look at the “watch” and “seal” and connect them with the line about the tongue destroying the speaker.
02How does the prayer connect thought, heart, and wisdom?
Notice that the speaker asks for correction over thought and discipline of wisdom over the heart, not only over outward actions.
03Which inner attitudes and desires are named near the end of the prayer?
List each one the passage names: proud eyes, evil desire, gluttony, lust, and a shameless mind.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 22:27
27Who will set a watch over my mouth, and a seal of shrewdness upon my lips, that I may not fall from it, and that my tongue may not destroy me?
Sirach 23:1–6
1O Lord, Father and Master of my life, don’t abandon me to their counsel. Don’t let me fall because of them.
2Who will set scourges over my thought, and a discipline of wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not for my errors, and not overlook their sins?
3Otherwise my errors might be multiplied, and my sins abound, I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me.
4O Lord, Father and God of my life, don’t give me a haughty eyes,
5and turn away evil desire from me.
6Let neither gluttony nor lust overtake me. Don’t give me over to a shameless mind.