Author

from ‘The Poem Book of the Gael’ tr. Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931), edited by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860-1935) Originally published by Chatto & Windus Used by permission

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Lyrics

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught 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 breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
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, be first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, thou bright Heaven’s Sun,
grant me its joys, after vict’ry is won;
heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O ruler of all.