Asking for a Pure Mouth:

The Gemara states (Brachos 18A): “Even if a sharp sword is placed upon a person's neck, he should not despair from Divine mercy." The Chidushei Harim (quoted in Bais Yisroel) states that this is a hint about lashon hara, which is likened to a sharp sword because it comes from a sharp tongue. The Gemara can be understood as saying that even though this sharp sword – i.e., one's tongue - is resting upon a person's neck, he shouldn't despair. Rather, he should beg Hashem for mercy and ask Him to save him by granting him a pure mouth.