The Book of Praise ‎#461

461. 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 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, thine own may I be,
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

3 Be thou my breastplate, 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 earthly 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 the battle is done,
grant heaven’s joy to me, O bright heaven’s Sun;
heart of my own 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
• Translator: Mary Byrne, 1880-1931
• Paraphraser: Eleanor Hull, 1860-1935 (alt.)
• Meter: 10 10 10 10
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1997
• Scripture:
  Psalm 16:5-6
  ;
  Psalm 63:6
  ;
  1 Corinthians 1:24
  ;
  Ephesians 6:10-17
• Topic: Canticles and Scripture Paraphrases; Descants and Fauxbourdons; God: Shelter / Shield; God: King; God: Images (Father); Recessionals; Vision / Dream; Wisdom; Worship
• Source: Irish anonymous, 8th century
• Copyright: Translation, paraphrase © Chatto and Windus Ltd.
• Notes: Now Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Harmonizer: Erik Routley, 1917-1982
• Composer (descant): John Wilson, 1905-1992
• Meter: 10 10 10 10
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Irish traditional
• Copyright: Harmony © 1975 by Hope Publishing Company; Descant © 1983 by Hope Publishing Company