How Great Thou Art
How Great Thou Art is Christian Hymn written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885, translated into English by Stuart Hine. It was popularized by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during Billy Graham crusades. [1]
A young minister’s two-mile walk in the rain provided the inspiration for "How Great Thou Art," a more recent addition to the collection of age-old hymns. The Reverend Carl Boberg of Monsteras, on the southeast coast of Sweden, was 25-years-old when he wrote the lyrics of this song after trekking through a thunderstorm from a church meeting two miles away.[2]
Lyrics
- Verse 1:
- O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
- Consider all the works Thy hands have made.
- I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
- Thy power through-out the universe displayed.
- Refrain:
- Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
- How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
- Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee:
- How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
- Verse 2:
- When through the woods and forest glades I wander
- And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
- When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
- And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
- (Repeat Refrain.)
- Verse 3:
- And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
- Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
- That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
- He bled and died to take away my sin:
- (Repeat Refrain.)
- Verse 4:
- When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
- And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
- Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
- And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
- (Repeat Refrain.)
Original Swedish Lyrics
- Verse 1:
- O store Gud, när jag den värld beskådar,
- Som du har skapat med ditt allmaktsord,
- Hur där din visdom leder livets trådar,
- Och alla väsen mättas vid ditt bord.
- Refrain:
- Då brister själen ut i lovsångsljud:
- O store Gud! O store Gud!
- Då brister själen ut i lovsångsljud:
- O store Gud! O store Gud!
- Verse 2:
- När sommarvinden susar över fälten,
- När blommor dofta invid källans rand,
- När trastar drilla i de gröna tälten,
- Vid furuskogens tysta, dunkla rand;
- (Repeat Refrain.)
- Verse 3:
- När jag i bibeln skådar alla under,
- Som Herren gjort se’n förste Adams tid,
- Hur nådefull Han varit alla stunder,
- Och hjälpt sitt folk ur livets synd och strid;
- (Repeat Refrain.)
- Verse 4:
- När slutligt alla tidens höljen falla,
- Uti åskådning byter sig min tro,
- Och evighetens klara klockor kalla,
- Min frälsta ande till dess sabbatsro;
- Final refrain:
- Då brister själen ut i lovsångsljud:
- Tack store Gud! Tack store Gud!
- Då brister själen ut i lovsångsljud:
- Tack store Gud! Tack store Gud!
References
- ^ Kurian, G. T.: "Nelson's new Christian dictionary: The authoritative resource on the Christian world", Thomas Nelson Pubs, 2001
- ^ Tan, P. L.: "Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers.", Bible Communications, 1996, c1979