Single lesson
A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire
Sirach 22:27–23:6
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire, using two details from the reading. 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.
Welcome: A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire
5 minIntroduce “A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire” and locate Sirach 22:27–23:6. 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. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Sirach 22:27, Sirach 23:3, Sirach 23:6
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe 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.
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.
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”.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Sirach 22:27, Sirach 23:3, Sirach 23:4, Sirach 23:5, Sirach 23:6
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What images are used to describe control over speech, and what danger do they answer?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. 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. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Sirach 22:27, Sirach 23:1, Sirach 23:2, Sirach 23:4, Sirach 23:5, Sirach 23:6
Make and respond: Words and images response sheet
12 minWork on “A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire: Words and images response sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Sirach 22:27, Sirach 23:3, Sirach 23:6
Closing: return to A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire
3 minRevisit Sirach 22:27–23:6. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Sirach 22:27, Sirach 23:3, Sirach 23:6
Questions to explore
What 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.
Sirach 22:27
How 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.
Sirach 23:1, Sirach 23:2
Which 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.
Sirach 23:4, Sirach 23:5, Sirach 23:6
Make, think or respond
A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire: Words and images response sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A repeated word or image”, “Its verse reference”, “What it expresses”.
- Read Sirach 22:27–23:6. Use “A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Choose one image and add a short written response or a simple drawing. Explain how it connects with the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Sirach 22:27–23:6. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Sirach 22:27–23:6. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Sirach 22
27 Who 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 O Lord, Father and Master of my life, don’t abandon me to their counsel. Don’t let me fall because of them.
2 Who 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?
3 Otherwise my errors might be multiplied, and my sins abound, I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me.
4 O Lord, Father and God of my life, don’t give me a haughty eyes,
5 and turn away evil desire from me.
6 Let neither gluttony nor lust overtake me. Don’t give me over to a shameless mind.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.