Be Thou My Vision
An ancient Irish prayer asking God to be the singer's vision, wisdom, and treasure.
Download PDFAn ancient Irish prayer asking God to be the singer's vision, wisdom, and treasure. Written by Ancient Irish (attributed to Dallán Forgaill) (8th century), set to the tune "Slane" by Traditional Irish ('Slane').
Suggested pairing scripture
Psalm 119:105
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Read Psalm 119:105 (KJV) aloud as a call to worship before the congregation sings "Be Thou My Vision." It anchors the hymn in the Word from which it flows.
Read in contextWhen to sing this
Sing at the close of a service as a hymn of response, during altar calls, baptisms, and seasons of personal rededication.
Lyrics
Stanza 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.
Stanza 2
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Stanza 3
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.
Stanza 4
High King of Heaven, my 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.
History & Background
The Old Irish text 'Rop tú mo baile' is traditionally attributed to the 6th-century poet Dallán Forgaill. Mary E. Byrne translated it to English in 1905; Eleanor Hull versified it in 1912 and paired it with the folk tune 'Slane'.
Scripture Behind the Hymn
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Be Thou My Vision?
The Irish text dates to roughly the 6th to 8th century. The English version most congregations sing today is from a 1912 versification by Eleanor Hull.
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Related Reading
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Where to go next
Enjoyed "Be Thou My Vision"? These pages pair well with it for worship planning.
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