Be Thou Their Vision

Be Thou their Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to them, save that Thou art

Thou their best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence their light. 

Be Thou their Wisdom, and Thou their true Word;

Them ever with Thee and Thou with them, Lord;

Thou their great Father, Thy daughters and sons;

Thou in them dwelling, and they with Thee one.

Be Thou their battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou their Dignity, Thou their Delight;

Thou their souls' Shelter, Thou their high Tower:

Raise Thou them heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches they heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou their Inheritence, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in their hearts,

High King of Heaven, their Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, their victory won,

May they reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of their own heart, whatever befall,

Still be their Vision, O Ruler of all.

Words: Dallan Forgail (8th Century) - adapted