Be Thou my Vision

This is a hymn of petition and statement of faith, which is popular at funerals.

It is  based on an 8th century Old Irish text, Rop tú mo Baile, which is usually attributed to Dallán Forgaill. 

It was translated into English by Irish linguist, author, and journalist, Mary E. Byrne (1880-1931) in 1905, and then put into 10 10 10 10 meter hymn-form in by Irish author, journalist and Old Irish scholar,  Eleanor H. Hull (d 1935), in 1912.

It is almost universally set to the Irish folk-tune, SLANE, which is also used for Lord of all Hopefulness.

Downloads

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SATB score

ABC notation

PowerPoint slides

SATB chorus and piano four hands or chamber orchestra, arranged by Mack Wilberg, 11 pages

Downloadable sheet for piano, voice, chords; 5 pages, as as performed by: Fernando Ortega

Examples

Singer with backing - professional recording

Small group with band - initially percussion-led

Contemporary folk / Celtic worship arrangement - professional recording

Massed choir with organ and brass - TV show recording

Choir and congregation with organ

Lyrics

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 my fight
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tow'r
Raise Thou me heav'nward, O pow'r of my pow'r

Riches I heed not, nor e’en 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 heav'n's Son!
Heart of my own heart, what ever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

See more ...

• Irish-origin hymns
• Hymns for funerals