Oh, what a lantern, what a lamp of light

Is thy pure word to me

To clear my paths and guide my goings right!

I swore and swear again,

I of the statutes will observer be,

Thou justly dost ordain.

The heavy weights of grief oppress me sore:

Lord, raise me by the word,

As thou to me didst promise heretofore.

And this unforced praise

I for an off’ring bring, accept, O Lord,

And show to me thy ways.

What if my life lie naked in my hand,

To every chance exposed!

Should I forget what thou dost me command?

No, no, I will not stray

From thy edicts though round about enclosed

With snares the wicked lay.

Thy testimonies as mine heritage,

I have retained still:

And unto them my heart’s delight engage,

My heart which still doth bend,

And only bend to do what thou dost will,

And do it to the end.

Born on October 27, 1561, Mary Sidney Herbert is an English poet and the author ofThe Dolefull Lay of Clorinda. She died on September 25, 1621.

Poetry by Herbert

The Collected Works