Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) ‎#642

642. 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, and 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 battle shield, sword for my fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tow'r;
raise thou me heav'n-ward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.

4 Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
thou mine 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, my victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'n'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 E. Byrne (1905)
• Versifier: Eleanor H. Hull (1912)
• Meter: 10.10.10.10.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1990
• Scripture:
  Philippians 3:7
  ;
  Colossians 3:1-5
• Topic: Christians: Triumph of; Riches; Supplication: For God's Presence
• Source: Ancient Irish poem, ca. 8th cent.

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Arranger: David Evans (1927)
• Meter: 10.10.10.10.
• Key: E♭ Major
• Copyright: Tune arr. © 1927 from the Revised Church Hymnary by permission of Oxford University Press.