Lyrics

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me save that thou art
Thou my best thought, in the day or the night,
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true Word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breast-plate, my sword for the fight,
Be thou my armour, and be thou my might.
Thou my soul’s shelter, and 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, the first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, when battle is done,
Grant heaven’s joy to me, bright heaven’s sun!
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Traditional Irish words and melody
Translated by Mary E. Byrne (1880-1931)
& Eleanor H. Hull (1860-1935)