Be Thou My Vision

--An Ancient Irish Poem

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'n-ward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.

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 heav'n's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.