Be Thou My Vision (ELW 793)
Devotion
1Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
thou my best thought both by day and by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my soul's shelter, and thou my high tow'r,
raise thou me heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.
3Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
4Light of my soul, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Text: Irish, 8th cent.; vers. Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935, alt.; tr. Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1931
Although written in the eighth century, this beloved hymn of trust and guidance speaks a timeless word of an intimate and present relationship with God through the Spirit. One can sense the Holy Spirit moving alongside us, nurturing this beautiful relationship of trust and love, day and night, throughout our lives.
The third verse especially captures the central essence of the hymn's promise of God's presence and relationship: "Thou and thou only, the first in my heart, great God of heaven, my treasure thou art." Love and reliance on God, first and foremost, bring light, wisdom, and shelter: a high tower, an inheritance, and true treasure.
Prayer
Eternal God, be our vision, our wisdom; waking and sleeping, may you be first in our hearts. Amen.