Be Thou My Vision : Lyrics
The original words of this hymn are attributed to Dallán Forgaill (c. 530 – 598). The English versions were versified by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860 – 1935) in 1912 based upon a translation by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880 – 1931) published in 1905.
Please note that there are two English versions of this hymn which have slightly different meters. Please ensure that the meter in your hymn book matches the meter of the recording or singing will be difficult.
Be Thou My Vision, Lyrics Meter 10 11 11 12
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 my 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.
Be Thou My Vision Lyrics, Meter 10 10 10 10
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 my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
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’ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Be Thou My Vision Free MP3 Downloads
- Tune: Slane, a traditional Irish melody by an anonymous composer arranged by Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955).
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Recording for Meter 10 11 11 12
- Performance ℗ 2019 Richard Irwin Music®. All rights reserved.
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Recording in Meter 10 10 10 10
Performance ℗ 2022 Richard Irwin Music®. All rights reserved.
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Original Old Irish Lyrics
1. Rop tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride:
ní ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime.
Rop tú mo scrútain i l-ló ‘s i n-aidche;
rop tú ad-chëar im chotlud caidche.
2. Rop tú mo labra, rop tú mo thuicsiu;
rop tussu dam-sa, rob misse duit-siu.
Rop tussu m’athair, rob mé do mac-su;
rop tussu lem-sa, rob misse lat-su.
3. Rop tú mo chathscíath, rop tú mo chlaideb;
rop tussu m’ordan, rop tussu m’airer.
Rop tú mo dítiu, rop tú mo daingen;
rop tú nom-thocba i n-áentaid n-aingel.
4. Rop tú cech maithius dom churp, dom anmain;
rop tú mo flaithius i n-nim ‘s i talmain.
Rop tussu t’ áenur sainserc mo chride;
ní rop nech aile acht Airdrí nime.
5. Co talla forum, ré n-dul it láma,
mo chuit, mo chotlud, ar méit do gráda.
Rop tussu t’ áenur m’ urrann úais amra:
ní chuinngim daíne ná maíne marba.
6. Rop amlaid dínsiur cech sel, cech sáegul,
mar marb oc brénad, ar t’ fégad t’ áenur.
Do serc im anmain, do grád im chride,
tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime.
7. Tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime,
do serc im anmain, do grád im chride.
Go Ríg na n-uile rís íar m-búaid léire;
ro béo i flaith nime i n-gile gréine.
8. A Athair inmain, cluinte mo núall-sa:
mithig (mo-núarán!) lasin trúagán trúag-sa.
A Chríst mo chride, cip ed dom-aire,
a Flaith na n-uile, rop tú mo baile.
Score
Available from MobileHymns.org
Video (10 10 10 10)
With thanks to Lucinda Bedwell