Be Thou My Vision
Discovering Divine Presence: 'Be Thou My Vision' Meaning
Lyrics
Be thou my vision (Vision)
Request for divine guidance to be the focus of perception and purpose
O Lord of my heart (Lord of my heart)
Addressing God as the ruler and guide of the speaker's innermost being
Not be all else to me
Nothing else should hold ultimate significance compared to God
Save that thou art
Except for the fact that God exists
Thou my best thought
God is the most profound and constant thought
By day or by night
Throughout all times—day or night
Waking or sleeping
In all states—awake or asleep
Thy presence my light
God's presence serves as the speaker's illumination and guidance
Be thou my wisdom
Request for God to be the source of wisdom
Be thou my true word
To be the embodiment of truth in the speaker's life
I ever with thee
Constant companionship with God
And thou with me, Lord
God's presence being always with the speaker
Thou my great Father
God as the ultimate parental figure
I thy true son
The speaker as a devoted follower of God
Thou in me dwelling
Mutual indwelling between the speaker and God
And I with thee one
Unity and oneness between the speaker and God
Riches I heed not
Material wealth is not a priority
Nor man's empty praise
The superficial admiration of others is disregarded
Thou mine inheritance
God is the ultimate possession, eternally
Now and always
God is the constant and everlasting inheritance
Thou and thou only
God alone holds the primary place in the speaker's heart
First in my heart
God, the exalted ruler of heaven
High King of heaven
God is the most valuable treasure
My treasure thou art
The supreme treasure in the speaker's life
High King of heaven
God, the exalted ruler of heaven
My treasure thou art
The ultimate and invaluable treasure
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