Be Thou My Vision

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.


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.


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 me heavenward, O Power of my power.


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.


High King of heaven, after victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. Amen.

(Ancient Irish, tr. by M.E. Byrne)


This is my favourite hymn, although I have many that are dear to my heart. Somehow, these old ones have something that most contemporary Christian music lacks. Perhaps it is because they were written with blood sweat and tears at the foot of the Cross, or perhaps it is because they come from times when the Church had not yet become so wayward in its doctrine....

I sometimes contemplate whether, in a prison cell, I would be singing a hymn such as this, or would I be bopping along to "Jesus is my best buddy down the road...."?

All praise and glory to His wonderful Name. God bless you.