386. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

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

2 Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

3 Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

5 High King of heaven, thou heaven's bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
great Heart 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 Byrne, 1880-1931
Versifier: Eleanor Hull, 1860-1935
Meter: 10 11 11 11
Language: English
Publication Date: 2000
Scripture: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Topic: Baptism of Christ: Year A; Proper 6: Year B; Proper 13: Year C (1 more...)
Source: Irish, 8th century
Copyright: © The Estate of the Editor of The Poem Book of the Gael by permission of the publisher, Chatto & Windus, a division of Random House Group Ltd.
Notes: Now Public Domain
Tune Information
Name: SLANE
Harmonizer: Erik Routley, 1917-1982
Meter: 10 11 11 11
Key: E♭ Major
Source: Irish traditional melody
Copyright: Harmony © Oxford University Press



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us