Be Thou My Vision
David Arkenstone & Kathleen Fisher Lyrics
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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
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
oh...
The song "Be Thou My Vision" is a prayerful hymn that expresses the singer's deep devotion and reliance on God as their guide and source of wisdom. The first verse emphasizes that the Lord is the most important thing to the singer, and nothing else can compare to their significance in their life. The second verse continues this theme, describing God as their eternal and constant companion, and the singer as His child. The third verse shows the singer's detachment from worldly possessions, as they declare that their true inheritance is God himself. The final line of each verse is a reaffirmation of God's status as the highest and most valuable treasure, signifying the singer's unyielding faith and trust in Him.
The metaphors throughout the song paint a vivid picture of the singer's relationship with God, describing Him as a guiding light, a wise mentor, a loving father, and a rich source of spiritual wealth. The lyrics also reflect the traditional Irish language and imagery that influenced the hymn's creation, with phrases like "Be Thou my Vision" and "High King of Heaven" drawing on Celtic mythology and folklore. Overall, "Be Thou My Vision" is a deeply emotional and poetic expression of the singer's unwavering faith and devotion to God.
Line by Line Meaning
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
My Lord, be the guide of my life and my ambitions
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Nothing else should matter to me except for Your presence
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
You are the best thought that I have when I am awake or asleep
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Your presence is my light, whether I am awake or asleep
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
Be my wisdom and my true word in all that I do
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
May I always be with You and You with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
I am Your true son and You are my great Father
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one
May You dwell in me as one and I with You
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
I do not care about wealth or the praises of others
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always
You are my inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
You are the only one and the first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art
You are the High King of Heaven and my greatest treasure
Contributed by Brody R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.