Ancient and Modern ‎#595

595. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

2 Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

3 Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

5 High King of heaven, thou heaven's bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Text Information

• First Line: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
• Irish Title: Rop tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride:
• Translator: Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931)
• Versifier: Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860-1935)
• Meter: 10 11 11 11
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Psalm 73:24-26
  ;
  Ephesians 6:10-18
  ;
  Philippians 3:7-10
• Topic: Commitment; Conflict; Devotion; Discipleship; God: names and images of; God: Presence of; God: Protection of; Pilgrimage; Proper 9: Year B; Self-offering; The Third Sunday of Advent: Year B; The Third Sunday of Lent: Year B
• Source: Irish, 8th century

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Harmonizer: Erik Routley (1917-1982)
• Meter: 10 11 11 11
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Irish traditional melody
• Copyright: Harmonisation: Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press. AU rights reserved.