Card received Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Religious Studies from Western Kentucky University. His studies in physics and astronomy allowed him to support himself while a student by working for six years at a planetarium. As of 2005, he is working on a Ph.D. in Classical Literature.
Be Thou My Vision
Michael Card Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 gain,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
The hymn "Be Thou My Vision" is a prayerful anthem that seeks God's guidance and presence in every moment of life. The lyrics draw upon the imagery of God as a wise and loving Father who provides all of the strength and wisdom that we need, and they celebrate his sovereignty and majesty as the High King of Heaven. The opening lines, "Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art" express a desire for God to be at the center of everything, with nothing else taking his place. The phrase "Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light" underscores the idea that God's presence is a constant source of strength and inspiration that brings clarity and guidance to our thoughts and actions.
The second verse is a continuation of this theme, with the singer asking God to be their wisdom and guide, and affirming their relationship with him as their Father and son. The verses convey a sense of intimacy and closeness to God, and underscore the idea that our relationship with him is at the heart of everything else. The final verse is a triumphant declaration of victory and a celebration of God's goodness and faithfulness, culminating in the powerful closing line, "Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all."
Overall, "Be Thou My Vision" is a powerful and evocative hymn that speaks directly to the heart of the Christian faith, expressing our deepest desires for trust, guidance, and connection with God.
Line by Line Meaning
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Oh Lord, please be my guide in life and take control of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Nothing else should matter except for the fact that You are present in my life;
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
You are always on my mind and the center of my thoughts day and night;
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Whether I am awake or asleep, Your presence is my guiding light;
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
Please be my source of wisdom and truth always;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
I will always be with You and You will always be with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
You are my beloved Father and I am Your true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
You reside within me and we are one in spirit and in truth;
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty gain,
I am not interested in wealth or worldly possessions, they mean nothing to me;
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
You are my ultimate inheritance, now and forever;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
Only You, Lord, are first in my heart and the center of my being;
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
You are my true treasure, my King in Heaven;
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
You, my King in Heaven, have won my victory;
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Please allow me to experience the joy of Heaven, oh bright Sun of Heaven;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
No matter what happens, You are the center of my heart;
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Please continue to be my vision, Oh Ruler over all.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL J. CARD, CRAIG DUNCAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind