Lyrics
Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
Expresses a plea for the Lord to be the guiding vision and focus of the speaker's heart.
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Declares that nothing else should have significance except the Lord's essence.
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Acknowledges the Lord as the speaker's foremost and constant thought, whether in day or night.
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Describes a profound reliance on the Lord's presence as a source of light, both awake and asleep.
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
Asks the Lord to be the speaker's wisdom and the embodiment of truth.
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Expresses a desire for constant companionship with the Lord.
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son
Recognizes the Lord as a great Father and the speaker as a true son, emphasizing unity.
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Highlights the reciprocal dwelling, with the Lord in the speaker and the speaker in the Lord, signifying unity.
Riches I need not, nor man's empty praise
States the speaker's disinterest in material wealth or human praise.
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Acknowledges the Lord as the ultimate inheritance, both in the present and throughout time.
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
Declares the exclusive place of the Lord as the first in the speaker's heart.
High king of heaven my treasure Thou art
Describes the Lord as the high king of heaven and the speaker's most valuable treasure.
Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
Reiterates the plea for the Lord to be the vision and focus of the speaker's heart.
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Restates that nothing else should have significance except the Lord's essence.
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Reaffirms the Lord as the speaker's foremost and constant thought, day or night.
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Repeats the profound reliance on the Lord's presence as a source of light, both awake and asleep.
High king of heaven, my victory won
Celebrates the Lord as the victorious high king of heaven.
May I reach heaven's joy, bright heaven sun
Expresses a hope to experience the joy of heaven and be in the presence of the bright heavenly sun.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Describes the Lord as the heart of the speaker's own heart, regardless of circumstances.
Still be my vision, oh ruler of all
Pleads for the Lord to continue being the vision, the ruler of all, regardless of what happens.
Still be my vision, oh ruler of all
Reiterates the plea for the Lord to continue being the vision and ruler of all.
Comment