This Shakespearean sonnet, inspired by Psalm 16:7-9 (KJV), expresses heartfelt praise for God’s guidance, steadfast presence, and the joy and hope they bring. The speaker blesses the Lord for His wise counsel, which illuminates their path and guides them, especially in quiet moments of reflection. By keeping God ever in focus, the speaker finds unshakable strength and confidence, unaffected by fear. This faith results in a joyful heart, a spirit lifted in praise, and a body resting securely in God’s grace. The sonnet concludes by affirming God as a constant source of joy and peace, leading the speaker to eternal tranquility. Written in iambic pentameter with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme, the poem uses serene imagery (e.g., “lights my way,” “quiet night,” “boundless grace”) to convey a universal, uplifting message without assuming life’s struggles, making it accessible and hopeful for all readers.

I bless the Lord, whose counsel lights my way,
His wisdom whispers truth to heart and mind;
In quiet night, His words my soul array,
And guide me gently where His will I find.

The Lord I set forever in my sight,
My constant strength, my ever-present guide;
With Him beside me, steadfast in His might,
No fear can shake the hope where I abide.

My heart is glad, my spirit lifts in song,
My tongue rejoices in His boundless grace;
In Him my flesh shall rest, secure and strong,
For love divine illumes my dwelling place.

O Lord, my joy, my refuge ever near,
Thy counsel leads to peace through every year.