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 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
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 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 3
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, with humble adoration
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
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
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
How Great Thou Art is a hymn of wonder at God's creation and salvation. The first verse looks in awesome wonder at the worlds His hands have made, the stars and rolling thunder, and His power displayed through the universe. The chorus answers with the soul singing to the Savior God, how great Thou art.
The second verse marvels that God spared not His Son but sent Him to die, bearing the burden on the cross and bleeding to take away sin, and the last verse looks to Christ's coming with a shout of acclamation, taking the singer home with humble adoration. The themes follow Psalm 8:3-4 and Psalm 19:1 on creation, John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 on the cross, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 on His return. The slow, spacious melody and clear three-part movement from creation to cross to return make it well suited to congregational worship.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 8:3-4 The psalmist considers the heavens, the work of God's fingers.
- John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.