Hymns to the Living God ‎#246

246. Be Thou My Vision

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 Armor, be Thou my true Might;
be Thou my soul’s Shelter, be Thou my strong Tow’r,
O raise Thou me heav’nward, great Pow’r of my pow’r.

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 High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5 High King of heaven, Thou heaven's bright Sun,
O grant me its joys, after vict'ry 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
• Title: Be Thou My Vision
• Translator: Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1905)
• Versifier: Eleanor Hull (1912)
• Meter: 10.11.11.11
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Topic: Submission and Profession
• Source: 8th cent. hymn

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Meter: 10.11.11.11
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Irish folk melody