Isaac Watts delivers a grave lesson on the power of words, aiming it squarely at children and anyone quick to mock. The speaker begins with a gentle command — our tongues were made for blessing, not for trading insults. But the tone hardens fast. He warns that angry name-calling deserves punishment and that calling a brother “fool” puts one in danger of hell. The real terror, though, comes when he recalls the story of Elisha. Youngsters taunted the prophet’s bald head, and God responded not with a scolding but with two bears that tore them apart. Watts lingers on the gruesome details — “blood, and groans, and tears” — to make sure the warning cuts deep. The mood is deeply solemn, colored by a visceral fear of divine judgment. Yet the speaker does not stand in pride; by the end he turns the lesson inward, begging God for grace to tame his own tongue. That shift from warning to prayer makes the fear feel intimate and personal.
Against Scoffing and Calling Names — Summary
Our tongues were made to bless the Lord, And not speak ill of men: When others give a railing word, We must not rail again.
Cross words and angry names require To be chastised at school; And he's in danger of hell-fire That calls his brother fool.
But lips that dare be so profane To mock, and jeer, and scoff At holy things, or holy men, The Lord shall cut them off.
When children, in their wanton play, Served old Elisha so, And bade the prophet go his way, "Go up, thou bald head, go!"
God quickly stopped their wicked breath; And sent two raging bears, That tore them limb from limb to death, With blood, and groans, and tears.
Great God! How terrible art thou To sinners e'er so young: Grant me thy grace, and teach me how To tame and rule my tongue.