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Be Thou my vision

by Eleanor Henrietta Hull

1  BE Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;  
nought 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 armour, be Thou my might;  
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, after victory won, 
may I reach heaven's joy, O bright heaven's sun! 
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, 
still be my vision, O Ruler of all. 

Irish, c. 8th cent., from The Poem Book of the Gael;
tr. by Mary Elizabeth Byrne, 1880-1931;
versified by Eleanor Henrietta Hull, 1860-1935

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