The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook ‎#491

491. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

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

2 Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word,
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true heir;
Thou in me dwelling, and I in Thy care.

3 Be Thou my breast-plate, my sword for the fight,
be Thou my armour, and be Thou my might;
Thou my soul's shelter, and Thou my high tower,
raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance through all my days;
Thou, and Thou only, the first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art!

5 High King of heaven, when battle is done,
grant heaven's joy to me, O bright heaven's Sun!
Christ 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
• Translator: Mary Elizabethy Byrne, 1880-1931
• Versifier: Eleanor Henrietta Hull, 1860-1935
• Meter: 10 10 10 10 Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2004
• Source: Irish, 8th century

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Meter: 10 10 10 10 Irregular
• Key: E Major
• Source: Irish traditional melody; Arr.: Compilers of Spring Harvest, 1998