Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) ‎#70

70. Be Thou My Vision

1 Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art,
Thou my best thought, by day or by 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, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3 Be Thou my buckler, my sword for the fight;
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight,
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower;
Raise Thou me heav'n-ward, O power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise;
Thou my inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

5 High King of heaven, when vict'ry is won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'n's sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Text Information

• First Line: Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
• Title: Be Thou My Vision
• Original Language: Irish
• Translator: Mary E. Byrne (1905)
• Alterer: Eleanor H. Hull (1912)
• Meter: 10 10. 10 10
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1997
• Scripture:
  Daniel 2:20-23
  ;
  Matthew 6:19-21
  ;
  2 John 1:9
• Topic: Christians: Dependence; Prayer: Petitions
• Source: Irish Folk Hymn, c. 750

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Harmonizer: Martin Shaw (1925)
• Meter: 10 10. 10 10
• Key: E Major
• Source: Joyce's Old Irish Folk Music & Songs, 1909