HISTORY OF “HOW GREAT THOU ART”

Music: How Great Thou Art, Swedish folk melody, adapted by Stuart K. Hine

Carl G. Boberg (1859-1940) Stuart K. Hine (1899-1989)

In 1885, at age 26, Swedish preacher Carl G. Boberg wrote the words only of a poem enti-

tled O Store Gud. Several years later, Boberg attended a meeting and was surprised to hear his

poem being sung to the tune of an old Swedish melody.

In the early 1920s, English missionaries, Stuart K. Hine and his wife, ministered in Poland. It

was there they learned the Russian version of Boberg’s poem, O Store Gud, coupled with the

original Swedish melody. Later, Hine wrote original English words and made his own arrange-

ment of the Swedish melody, which became popular and is now known as the hymn, How

Great Thou Art.

The first three verses were inspired, line upon line, amidst unforgettable experiences in the Car-

pathian Mountains. In a village to which he had climbed, Mr. Hine stood in the street singing a

Gospel Hymn and reading aloud, John, Chapter Three. Among the sympathetic listeners was a

local village schoolmaster. A storm was gathering, and when it was evident that no further tra-

vel could be made that night, the friendly schoolmaster offered his hospitality. Awe-inspiring

was the mighty thunder echoing through the mountains, and it was this impression that was to

bring about the birth of the first verse.

Pushing on, Hine crossed the mountain frontier into Romania and into Bukovina. Together with

some young people, through the woods and forest glades he wandered, and heard the birds sing

sweetly in the trees. Thus, the second verse came into being. Verse three was inspired by the

conversion of many Carpathian mountain-dwellers. The fourth verse did not come about until

Hine’s return to Britain.

HOW GREAT THOU ART © 1949 and 1953 by the Stuart Hine Trust. All rights in the USA its territories and possessions,

except print rights, administered by EMICMG Publishing. USA print rights administered by Hope Publishing Company. All

other North, Central and South American rights administered by Manna Music Inc. Rest of the world rights administered by

Kingsway Communications Ltd. Used by permission.

HOW GREAT THOU ART

(Psa. 92:5)

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made, [works]

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, [mighty]

Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain/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!

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:

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.

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, [shall I bow]

And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art!

NB: Author’s original words are works, mighty and shall I bow (Word changes approved for

use in North America only.)

How Great Thou ArtSwedish Folk MelodyStuart Wesley Keene Hine, 1953

© 1949 & 1953 The Stuart Hine TrustCourtesy of the Cyber Hymnal™

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