March 19, 2005

Be Thou My Vision

Text:  Irish Hymn, c. 8th century
Music:  Irish Melody
Translated by Mary Elizabeth Byrne, 1880-1931
Versified by Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935

   Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18.

    The words to Be Thou My Vision are attributed to Dallan Forgaill, 8th Cen­tu­ry; and translated from Irish to English by Mary Byrne.
    A linguist, Mary Byrne attended the Dominican Convent in Dublin, and the University of Ireland, where she graduated in 1905. She worked for the Board of Intermediate Education, and helped compile the Catalog of the Royal Irish Academy. She also contributed to the Old and Mid-Irish Dictionary and Dictionary of the Irish Language, and wrote a treatise on England in the Age of Chaucer.

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, 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.

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, 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.