Nay, Speak No Ill

First line: Nay, speak no ill; a kindly word Can never leave a / Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word / Nay, speak no ill / Nay, speak no ill; a kindly word Can never leave / Nay, speak no ill; a kindly word can never leave a sting behind

Original language: English

Words: Anon.
Music: Anon.

Lyrics
Statistics
Tunes
- Kindly Word (by Anon.)
- Text only

English

This song has been indexed in 21 languages:

About the text author

Anon.

Song arrangements

Find sheet music and arrangements for this song via the BYU library.

Nay, Speak No Ill
Hymns (1985, 2002 ed.), 233

1. Nay, speak no ill; a kindly wordCan never leave a sting behind;And, oh, to breathe each tale we’ve heardIs far beneath a noble mind.Full oft a better seed is sownBy choosing thus the kinder plan,For, if but little good is known,Still let us speak the best we can.
2. Give me the heart that fain would hide,Would fain another’s faults efface.How can it please the human prideTo prove humanity but base?No, let us reach a higher mood,A nobler estimate of man;Be earnest in the search for good,And speak of all the best we can.
3. Then speak no ill, but lenient beTo others’ failings as your own.If you’re the first a fault to see,Be not the first to make it known,For life is but a passing day;No lip may tell how brief its span.Then, oh, the little time we stay,Let’s speak of all the best we can.

These charts show the use of this song in English hymnbooks and other collections published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If a song appears in multiple editions of the same hymnbook, it is only counted once. [undetermined] means that tune information has not yet been entered in.

Tunes that have appeared with this song in English

Appearances of this song over time in English

X:233 Q:1/4=84 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2 B3/2A/ (G2 F)G | A2 B2 D4 | B2 B3/2A/ (G2 A)B | c2 F2 G4 | yy

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1985, 2002 ed.), 233

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1985, 1998 ed.), 233

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1985, 1985 ed.), 233

Nay, Speak No Ill

Favorite Seminary Songs (1961, 1965 ed.), no. 9d

Nay, Speak No Ill

The Children Sing (1951, 1951 ed.), 121

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1948, 1979 ed.), 116

Nay, Speak No Ill (Women’s Voices)

Hymns (1948, 1979 ed.), 374

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1948, 1961-b ed.), 116

Nay, Speak No Ill (Women’s Voices)

Hymns (1948, 1961-b ed.), 374

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1948, 1960-a ed.), 116

Nay, Speak No Ill (Women’s Voices)

Hymns (1948, 1960-a ed.), 374

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1948, 1950 ed.), 116

Nay, Speak No Ill (Women’s Voices)

Hymns (1948, 1950 ed.), 374

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1948, 1948 ed.), 116

Nay, Speak No Ill

Hymns (1948, 1948 ed.), 374

Nay, Speak No Ill

Aaronic Priesthood Choruses (1945, 1945 ed.), no. 42

Arr.: N. Lorenzo Mitchell

Nay, Speak No Ill

Relief Society Songs (1940, 1940-a ed.), no. 40

Nay, Speak No Ill

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1930 ed.), 75

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

Nay, Speak No Ill

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1927 ed.), 75

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

Nay, Speak No Ill

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1923 ed.), 75

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

Nay, Speak No Ill

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1919 ed.), 75

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

Nay, Speak No Ill

Deseret Sunday School Songs (1909, 1937 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak No Ill

Deseret Sunday School Songs (1909, 1909 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak No Ill

Songs of Zion (1908, 1925 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak No Ill

Songs of Zion (1908, 1920 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak No Ill

Songs of Zion (1908, 1918 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak No Ill

Songs of Zion (1908, 1912 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak No Ill

Songs of Zion (1908, 1908 ed.), 88

Nay, Speak no Ill

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1908 ed.), no. 66

Nay, Speak no Ill

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1907 ed.), no. 66

Nay, Speak no Ill

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1906 ed.), no. 66

Nay, Speak no Ill

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1905-b ed.), no. 66

Nay, Speak no Ill

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1894 ed.), no. 66

Nay, Speak No Ill

Children’s Primary Tune Book (1880, 1880 ed.), no. 4

Nay Speak No Ill

Selected L.D.S. Hymns (, 1944 ed.), 38

Unofficial or Local Publications

Nay, Speak No Ill

Favorite Seminary Songs (O. C. Tanner) (1950, 1950 ed.), 43

Nay, speak no ill

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1908 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1906 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1903 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1901 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill

Children’s Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1899 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill

Children’s Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1897 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill

Children’s Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1896 ed.), 52

Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word

Hymns and Sacred Songs for Children (1888, 1888 ed.), 190

Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word

Children’s Primary Hymn Book: Hymns and Songs (1880, 1893 ed.), no. 60

Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word

Children’s Primary Hymn Book: Hymns and Songs (1880, 1888 ed.), no. 60

Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word

Children’s Primary Hymn Book: Hymns and Songs (1880, 1880 ed.), no. 62

Unofficial or Local Publications

Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word

Mountain Warbler (1872, 1872 ed.), 88a

Unofficial or Local Publications

Speak No Ill

Programme of the Latter Day Saints’ Soirée (1851, 1851 ed.)

Unofficial or Local Publications

Speak no Ill

The Programme of the Norwich Conference Festival (1851, 1851 ed.), 17