642. Be Thou My Vision

1 Be thou my vision, O joy 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, my calm in all strife;
I ever with thee, and thou in my life;
thou loving parent, thy child may I be,
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

3 Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower;
raise thou my heavenward, O power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only, first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

5 Great God of heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, 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 joy of my heart
Title: Be Thou My Vision
Translator: Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1905)
Versifier: Eleanor H. Hull (1912, alt.)
Meter: 10 10 10 10
Language: English
Publication Date: 1996
Topic: The Church in the World: Commitment: Pilgrimage; Commitment; Conflict and Struggle (47 more...)
Source: Irish, ca. 8th century
Tune Information
Name: SLANE
Meter: 10 10 10 10
Key: E♭ Major
Source: Irish traditional melody



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