Be Thou My Helper in the Strife

Verse 1

Be Thou my helper in the strife, O Lord, my strong Defender be; Thy mighty shield protect my life, Thy spear confront the enemy. Amid the conflict, O my Lord, Thy precious promise let me hear, The faithful, reassuring word: I am thy Savior, do not fear.

Verse 2

Ashamed, confounded let them be Who seek my ruin and disgrace; O let Thy angel fight for me, And drive my foes before his face. Without a cause my life they sought, Without a case their plots they laid; Themselves within their snares be caught, And be my crafty foes dismayed.

Verse 3

My soul is joyful in the Lord, In His salvation I rejoice; To Him my heart will praise accord And bless His Name with thankful voice. For who, O Lord, is like to Thee, Defender of the poor and meek? The needy Thy salvation see When mighty foes their ruin seek.

Verse 4

Unrighteous witnesses have stood And told of crimes beyond belief; Returning evil for my good, They overwhelm my soul with grief. When in affliction they were sad, I wept and made their grief my own; But in my trouble they are glad And strive that I may be o'erthrown.

Verse 5

O Lord, how long wilt Thou delay? My soul for Thy salvation waits; My thankfulness I will display Amid the crowds that throng Thy gates. Let not my enemies rejoice And wrongfully exult o'er me; They speak not peace, but lift their voice To trouble those that peaceful be.

Verse 6

My foes with joy my woes survey, But Thou, O Lord, hast seen it all; O be no longer far away, Nor silent when on Thee I call. O haste to my deliverance now, O Lord, my righteous cause maintain; My Lord and God alone art Thou; Awake, and make thy justice plain.

Verse 7

O Lord my God, I look to Thee, Be Thou my righteous Judge, I pray; Let not my foes exult o'er me And laugh with joy at my dismay. With shame and trouble those requite Who would my righteous cause destroy; But those who in the good delight, Let them be glad and shout for joy.

Verse 8

Yea, let the Lord be magnified, Because Thy servants Thou dost bless; And I, from morn till eventide, Will daily praise Thy righteousness. My soul is joyful in the Lord, In His salvation I rejoice; To Him my heart will praise accord And bless His Name with thankful voice.