CPWI Hymnal ‎#409

409. 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
• Irish Title: Roh tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride
• Translator: Mary Byrne, 1880-1931
• Versifier: Eleanor Hull, 1860-1935
• Meter: 10.11.11.11
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2010
• Topic: General Hymns: Christian Vocation and Witness
• Source: c8th century Irish

Tune Information

• Name: SLANE
• Harmonizer: Erik Routley, 1917-1982
• Meter: 10.11.11.11
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Irish traditional melody
• Copyright: Harmonization by permssion of Oxford University Press