How Great Thou Art Lyrics: Full Text and Hymn Background

If you search "how great thou art lyrics", you are looking for the four-verse version of the hymn that has been covered by thousands of singers and congregations since Stuart K. Hine completed the English translation. The lyrics grew from a 1885 Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg, traveled through Russian and German into English, and became a global staple of hymnals. This article gives you the complete, authoritative text verse by verse, explains the original context, and covers the key lines that keep the hymn sung today.

Background

• "How great thou art hymn lyrics" is a persistently high-volume search year-round, and the query spikes at Christmas, Easter, funerals, and revivals in English-speaking congregations worldwide.
• The modern lyrics are the work of Stuart K. Hine in the 1930s, adapting earlier Swedish and Russian texts into a verse-and-chorus structure that fits easy congregational singing.
• The hymn's enduring popularity rests on its simple language that celebrates creation, redemption, and the second coming of Christ, making it a natural fit for both formal worship and informal concerts.

Key facts

Item	Detail
Original Swedish poem	"O Store Gud" by Carl Gustav Boberg, 1885
English translation	Complete by Stuart K. Hine, published 1949
Number of verses	Four verses plus repeated chorus in the common version
Tempo and meter	Common time, traditional melody from Swedish folk tune
Chorus repeats	After every verse in most modern arrangements
Most famous line	"Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art!"
Global circulation	Translated into hundreds of languages worldwide

Highlights

The lyrics by verse with the chorus

The most widely sung version opens with the first verse describing creation heard through rolling thunder and fragrant forests on a breezy evening. The image of nature responding to God's power sets the theme for every verse that follows.

The image below shows the original sheet music title page from the 1940s:

Caption: The 1949 English hymnal publication gave the song its lasting modern form for English congregations.

From Swedish to English via Russian and Ukrainian setting

Boberg wrote "O Store Gud" after experiencing a summer storm followed by calm near the Swedish coast, a moment that inspired the opening lines about the natural world. Later translations moved into Russian, and Hine heard the tune among Russian refugees, added new verses, and completed the English text with his own lines about creation and redemption. The Ukrainian landscape enters the lyrics through Hine's missionary experience, which is why the third verse speaks of God sending His son.

The chorus is the anchor for memory

The chorus — "Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art! Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!" — is what makes the hymn easy to recall and hard to forget. The repetition invites call-and-response singing, which is why even large congregations can join in without needing perfect recall. This structural simplicity explains why "how great thou art lyrics" remains a steady search on Google: many people remember the chorus and need only one or two forgotten verses.

Industry positioning & impact

"How great thou art lyrics" is a legacy query that generates consistent search volume for hymn websites, digital sheet music sellers, and religious content creators, supported by steady YouTube views for artist covers and congregational recordings. The commercial appeal draws gospel music labels, Christian bookstores, and streaming platforms, which keep remastering classic versions. Because the text is in the public domain in most countries, any site can publish the full lyrics legally, which means competition for top rankings focuses on clean formatting, correct verse order, and accurate background rather than exclusive rights. Modern streaming metrics show that the song still climbs playlists during holidays and memorial services, so the search volume stays stable year after year with predictable seasonal spikes. For historical and theological context, the authoritative sources remain hymnal collections and the documented history published by church authorities.

Related reading

For a different enduring classic, how many people are in the world puts human scale in perspective, and how often is the world cup covers another four-yearly global event.

References

Original historical context and lyrics are documented in Hymnary.org which maintains authoritative records of translation, publication, and authorship. Sheet music and audio references are hosted by the Library of Congress for historical recordings, and the original Swedish text and background are published by the Swedish Church.

Buying advice & audience

If you are searching "how great thou art lyrics" for congregation or personal use, the full four-verse text below matches the hymnal version most congregations expect. Choirs and soloists sometimes cut one verse for shorter services; the most common cuts are verse three or verse four to keep the piece tight. If you are arranging the hymn for a new recording or digital release, the text is public domain so you can use it freely in most jurisdictions, though copyright on new arrangements sometimes persists. Those looking for sheet music can find authorized arrangements from major hymnal publishers and reputable digital sheet music sites. The melody is straightforward, which is why this hymn remains one of the easiest for small congregations to lead with piano or guitar accompaniment.

Full lyrics

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 rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Saviour 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 breeze;

Chorus

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

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.

Chorus

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

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 is great!"

Chorus

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

FAQ

Who wrote the original How Great Thou Art lyrics?

The original was a Swedish poem, "O Store Gud", written in 1885 by Carl Gustav Boberg. The complete English lyrics we sing today were translated and arranged by Stuart K. Hine, who added new verses and published the final version in 1949.

What are the four verses of How Great Thou Art?

The four verses describe the beauty of creation, walking through the woods, the cross and redemption, and the second coming of Christ, each followed by the same chorus. The full text is printed above in the verse-by-verse version used by most English hymnals.

What is the famous line from How Great Thou Art?

The most famous line is the opening of the chorus: "Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art!" The repetition of "How great Thou art" gives the hymn its name and its memorable punch.

Is How Great Thou Art public domain?

In most countries, the original text and traditional melody are public domain because the original authors and translators have been dead far longer than the copyright term. New modern arrangements or recordings remain under copyright, but the core lyrics themselves can be used freely.

Where can I find the How Great Thou Art hymn sheet music?

Authoritative sheet music is available through major hymnal publishers and digital sheet music retailers; the full text and historical context are documented at Hymnary.org which lists available editions and arrangements for download.