Hymns and Songs | Ken Puls Music

How Prone We Are to Vanity

A Prayer Against Pride

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1, ESV)

1.   How prone we are to vanity
            Even in the noblest things.
         We study doctrine with great zeal,
            Yet miss the grace it brings.

2.   Though we might know all mysteries,
           Deep truths explore and find,
        There is no profit without love
           In filling up our minds.

3.   For if we speak but have not love,
           We're like a sounding brass,
         And are but nothing even if
           All knowledge we amass.

4.   We give our gifts to help the poor,
           To serve and clothe and feed,
         And proudly think that we've done well
         When we're the ones in need.

5.   We pray for others in their sins,
         Exulting in our skill
         At plucking specks from others' eyes,
         While beams obstruct ours still.

6.   Now Father, bring us to our knees,
         Our hearts before You bowed.
          Come humble us with truth and grace,
         Cast down the great and proud.

7.   Protect us from the deadly path
         Of holding truth in pride.
          Fill us with faith and hope and love,
         In these help us abide.

WORDS: Ken Puls, 2004
MUSIC: Tom Wells, 2004
TUNE: PENROD (C.M.)
THEME: A Prayer Against Pride based on 1 Corinthians 13

Perhaps the most self-indicting song I have written: A Prayer for those who are battling pride, that God would humble us and that we would learn to speak the truth in love.

Words ©2004 Kenneth A Puls
Music ©2004 Tom Wells

Lower (recording) Key: dm

Higher Key: fm

Lower (recording) Key: dm

Guitar Key: am

Classical Guitar Accompaniment

Permission is granted to churches to make additional copies
of the lyrics and sheet music for this hymn for use in worship.

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