{"slug": "o-lord-be-thou-my-helper-true", "title": "Assurance for Evil Days", "first_line": "O Lord, be Thou my helper true", "author_source": "The Psalter, 1912", "foot": "iambic", "meter": {"pattern": [8, 8, 6, 8, 8, 6], "doubled": false, "refrain": false, "alleluia": false, "irregular": false}, "psalm": 12, "topics": ["Psalms"], "scripture": ["Psalm 12"], "provenance": {"layer": "text", "source": "psalter-1912", "source_kind": "open_encoding", "encoding_origin": "hymnary.org (selection 21) via the Wayback Machine; cross-verified against two independently scanned printings (archive.org OCR)", "pd_basis": "pub_pre_1931", "pd_evidence": "The Psalter, United Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1912 \u2014 Psalm 12, selection 21. Imported by tools/psalter1912_import.py: word-bag attested by both scans; every line machine-scanned to the metre.", "pd_jurisdictions": {"US": true}}, "stanzas": {"1": {"syllabified": "O Lord, be Thou my help -- er true, For just and god -- ly men are few; The faith -- ful who can find? From truth and wis -- dom men de -- part, With flat -- t'ring lips and dou -- ble heart They speak their e -- vil mind.", "prose": ["O Lord, be Thou my helper true,", "For just and godly men are few;", "The faithful who can find?", "From truth and wisdom men depart,", "With flatt'ring lips and double heart", "They speak their evil mind."]}, "2": {"syllabified": "The lips that speak, the truth to hide, The tongues of ar -- ro -- gance and pride, That boast -- ful words em -- ploy, Fal -- se -- speak -- ing tongues that boast their might, That own no law, that know no right, Je -- ho -- vah will de -- stroy.", "prose": ["The lips that speak, the truth to hide,", "The tongues of arrogance and pride,", "That boastful words employ,", "False-speaking tongues that boast their might,", "That own no law, that know no right,", "Jehovah will destroy."]}, "3": {"syllabified": "Be -- cause the poor are sore op -- pressed, Be -- cause the need -- y are dis -- tressed, And bit -- ter are their cries, The Lord will be their help -- er strong; To save them from con -- tempt and wrong Je -- ho -- vah will a -- rise.", "prose": ["Because the poor are sore oppressed,", "Because the needy are distressed,", "And bitter are their cries,", "The Lord will be their helper strong;", "To save them from contempt and wrong", "Jehovah will arise."]}, "4": {"syllabified": "Je -- ho -- vah's prom -- is -- es are sure, His words are true, His words are pure As sil -- ver from the flame. Tho' base men walk on ev -- 'ry side, His saints are safe, what -- e'er be -- tide, Pro -- tec -- ted by His Name.", "prose": ["Jehovah's promises are sure,", "His words are true, His words are pure", "As silver from the flame.", "Tho' base men walk on ev'ry side,", "His saints are safe, whate'er betide,", "Protected by His Name."]}}, "license": "The hymn texts and tunes are in the public domain; per-layer provenance is recorded on each record."}