A Vision For The Night

I should be asleep…
I’ve been trying to find a version of this hymn that I like – there’s many to choose from. It was one of my favourites when I was little, and I still love it!
“Be Thou My Vision” is from an original Irish text, 6th century, or possibly 8th century… here’s a version by Maire Brennan (Enya’s older sister), sung in (modern) Irish –

It was translated by Eleanor Hull in 1912 – this is the closest version to the one I remember singing (I remember the first line of the third verse as “Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight…” and the last verse as “High King of Heaven, O Heaven’s bright Sun, Grant me its joys after victory is won…”)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

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;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.