Be Thou My Vision

Good Shepherd Mosaic at Ravenna, Italy

Image in the Public Domain

A traditional Irish hymn:

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, Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee, 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 the fight;

Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight,

Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower:

Raise Thou my heavenward, Power of my prayer.

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, after 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.

Hymn Source = The Hymnary of The United Church of Canada (1930)