mgpcpastor's blog

This morning we sang a hymn which began with the words: ‘Lord, Be My Vision’. I remain unconvinced of the modernisation of hymns.
Originally an ancient Irish text, it was translated to English by Mary E. Byrne and adapted as a hymn by Eleanor Hull. The common tune to which it is sung (I am unaware of any others) is Slane, an adaption of an Irish folk melody.
Our lectio continua reading text today was Ecclesiastes chapter 2. I thought this song is an interesting response to that that Scripture.

These are the words I grew up with, from the Church Hymnary, Revised Edition (c) Oxford University Press. This is Hymn 477.
1.
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.
2.
Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
3.
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.
4.
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.
5.
High King of heaven, after 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.

Here is the version we sang today. It is number 419 from the Rejoice! Hymn Book, Presbyterian Church of Australia. These words are (c) Jubilate Hymns Ltd.
1.
Lord, be my vision, supreme in my heart,
bid every rival give way and depart:
You my best thought in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, Your presence my light.
2.
Lord, be my wisdom and be my true word,
I ever with You and You with me, Lord:
You my great Father and I Your true son,
You in me living and I with You one.
3.
Lord be my breastplate, my sword for the fight:
be my strong armour, for You are my might;
You are my shelter, You are my high tower,
raise me to heaven, O Pow’r of my power.
4.
I need no riches, nor man’s empty praise:
You my inheritance through all my days;
all of Your treasure to me You impart,
high King of heaven, the first in my heart.
5.
High King of heaven, after victory won,
grant heaven’s joy to me, bright heaven’s sun;
Lord of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Probably lost among the more substantial alterations, it is interesting that the word ‘heed’ has been changed to ‘need’ in the first line of verse 4. I don’t know why it was changed. For the Christian, to not ‘heed’ the call of riches or human praise is to recognise their presence but refusing to make them our aim. To not ‘need’ them sounds different and alters the sense of focus on the person of God alone.

On the off chance you’ve never heard this hymn before this youtube has some Irish tenors singing four verses. If you listen you’ll note differences in the words and even the number of syllables in some lines. But the tune Slane allows for that.