How Great Thou Art Lyrics: Full Text, Chords & History

Few hymns have traveled as far as “How Great Thou Art.” Originally written in Swedish in 1885, this devotional has crossed oceans, languages, and generations to land squarely in the soundtrack of modern funerals and worship services alike. What started as one pastor’s quiet awe after a thunderstorm became one of the most sung songs in the English-speaking world—and its journey is stranger than most people realize.

Origin Year: 1885 ·
English Translator: Stuart K. Hine ·
Standard Verses: 4 ·
Original Language: Swedish ·
Key Appearances: Methodist Hymnal, Hymnary.org

What are the lyrics to How Great Thou Art?

Verse 1

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus

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!

The first verse captures what Carl Boberg felt when a sudden thunderstorm rolled over the Swedish countryside and then cleared just as quickly, leaving him surrounded by the quiet majesty of creation. According to Christian Web Resources (chronicler of hymn history), Boberg was walking home from church when the sky shifted from fury to stillness, and that contrast stayed with him.

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.

Verse 2 shifts the attention from cosmic scale to intimate nature—birdsong, mountain views, a bubbling brook. The Happy Wonderer notes this verse rounds out the hymn’s dual focus on both the vast and the small in creation.

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.

The third verse pivots from nature to redemption. The cross becomes the hinge point where wonder deepens into gratitude. PNW Chords identifies this verse as the emotional center of the hymn’s theology.

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!

Verse 4 looks forward to Christ’s return, tying themes of creation and redemption together into eternal hope. Ford Mears & Partners (funeral services provider) confirms this verse is a primary reason the hymn has become a fixture at memorial services—it offers not just reflection on loss but also hope of reunion.

The hymn is typically performed in F major, with the chorus shifting to a G major voicing in some arrangements. GCCSATX Hymns provides the full lyrics across 4 verses and standard chord charts used in most church accompaniments. Guitar players often use a C major version with chords C F Am7 G for the verses, as documented by Worship Together. Those seeking chord progressions for guitar or keyboard will find multiple voicings available online.

What is the story behind the hymn How Great Thou Art?

Carl Boberg wrote the original Swedish poem “O Store Gud” in 1885 after a dramatic weather experience near his home in Värmland, Sweden. GCCSATX Hymns documents that the storm came up quickly, thunder rolled across the hills, and then the sky cleared to reveal extraordinary beauty—a sequence Boberg later called “O Store Gud” (Oh Great God).

Original Swedish Poem

Boberg (1859–1940) was a Lutheran pastor and editor who originally published his poem in a Swedish mission journal. The 11-stanza original has been condensed in most English versions to the four verses most congregations recognize today.

Translations

The path from Swedish to English ran through multiple hands. The most widely accepted English version was produced by missionary Stuart K. Hine, who encountered the hymn during work in Eastern Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. Hymnary.org (authoritative hymn database) records that Hine’s translation appeared in the 1949 collection Mission Hymns.

Stuart K. Hine Version

Hine added two original verses not present in Boberg’s original—one about Christ’s resurrection and another anticipating His return—which is why the English version extends beyond the Swedish source material. George Beverly Shea introduced the Hine translation to American audiences during Billy Graham crusades in the 1950s, and the hymn spread rapidly from there. The Happy Wonderer notes that Shea’s rich baritone made the song a signature moment at those crusades.

Is How Great Thou Art a funeral hymn?

Yes. Funeral directors and families have made it one of the most-requested hymns for memorial services. Ford Mears & Partners (UK funeral services provider) lists it among the most frequently played hymns at their services, citing its themes of creation, redemption, and eternal life as a natural fit for farewell ceremonies.

Popularity at Funerals

The hymn appears in funeral planning guides across the English-speaking world. While precise ranking data varies by region and year, multiple funeral service providers consistently place it in the top tier of requested hymns. Its combination of poetic language and singable melody works equally well for a full congregation or a small family gathering.

Uplifting Qualities

Unlike some funeral hymns that focus primarily on sorrow, “How Great Thou Art” opens with awe and wonder, moves through sacrifice, and ends on a note of anticipation. GCCSATX Hymns (church music resource) identifies this emotional arc as the reason many families choose it—not just to mourn, but to celebrate the person’s faith.

Do Catholics sing How Great Thou Art?

Catholics do sing “How Great Thou Art,” though its presence in Catholic hymnal resources is less documented than in Protestant contexts. PNW Chords lists it among hymns used in Catholic liturgical settings, and several Catholic hymnal databases include it in their funeral music selections.

Catholic Hymnals

The hymn has been translated into over 100 languages, which has naturally increased its inclusion in various denominational collections worldwide. Hymnary.org notes that Catholic publishing houses in the UK and Ireland have included the hymn in their official collections, though the exact dates of first inclusion are reportedly difficult to confirm.

Usage in Mass

Funeral Masses and memorial services are the most common contexts for “How Great Thou Art” in Catholic settings. The hymn’s themes of creation and redemption fit well within the Catholic understanding of the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection as the pathway to eternal life.

Is How Great Thou Art appropriate for a funeral?

For most families in English-speaking countries, yes. Its wide acceptance across denominations, singable melody, and themes of hope and redemption make it a safe and meaningful choice. Ford Mears & Partners confirms it appears regularly in their funeral music recommendations.

Modern Recordings

Contemporary recordings by artists like Worship Together and Keith and Kristyn Getty have refreshed the hymn’s sound without altering the lyrics. These modern versions introduce the hymn to younger congregants who may have encountered it in contemporary worship settings rather than traditional hymnals.

Getty Influence

Keith and Kristyn Getty have been credited with bringing “How Great Thou Art” into the modern church music movement. Their arrangement preserves Hine’s original lyrics while adding contemporary musical textures that appeal to congregations used to richer instrumental arrangements. The Happy Wonderer documents their role in the hymn’s contemporary revival.

History at a glance

Five dates mark the hymn’s journey from regional Swedish poem to global anthem.

The pattern is consistent: a regional hymn gains a translator, a promoter, and eventually a contemporary voice. Each generation adds a layer without erasing what came before.

Confirmed facts and open questions

Most of the hymn’s basic facts are well-documented, but a few details remain fuzzy.

Words from the sources

Carl Boberg described the moment of inspiration: “The thunderstorm that had gathered was followed by a brilliant sky, and the whole landscape seemed to speak of the great God.”

Stuart K. Hine reportedly worked on his translation during long train rides across Eastern Europe in the 1930s, gradually refining his word choices until the English felt natural without losing the Swedish theology.

Summary

“How Great Thou Art” continues to hold its position as one of the most-requested hymns at English-speaking funerals because it does something rare: it moves from cosmic awe to personal redemption to eternal hope in four short verses, giving grieving families language for wonder amid sorrow. For anyone planning a memorial service, the choice is straightforward: the hymn’s themes of creation, sacrifice, and anticipated reunion fit nearly any theological framework, and its singable melody works for both large congregations and intimate gatherings. Those seeking alternatives might consider “It Is Well with My Soul” for a different emotional register, or “Amazing Grace” for shorter congregational participation. Choosing “It Is Well with My Soul” gives families a hymn focused on peace amid trials, while “Amazing Grace” offers a three-verse option that some congregations find more manageable in timing and participation.

Related reading: full lyrics across 4 verses · chord progressions

Frequently asked questions