Lyrics
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.
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!
And when I think of 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.
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!
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!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, with humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
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!
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“How Great Thou Art” moves from wonder at creation to gratitude for redemption and hope in Christ’s return. The opening verse considers the stars, thunder, and vastness of the universe as signs of divine power. Its chorus answers that vision with adoration, making praise the recurring response to each part of the song.
The later verses turn from the created world to the cross, where Christ bears sin, and then toward his promised coming. This sequence gives the hymn a broad biblical arc: creation displays God’s glory, the cross reveals sacrificial mercy, and Christ’s return leads to humble worship. Psalm 19:1 closely matches the contemplation of the heavens, while Romans 5:8 supports the focus on Christ’s death for sinners. The final expectation also recalls 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which describes the Lord descending with a commanding call. Across each scene, the refrain gathers awe, salvation, and future hope into one declaration of God’s greatness.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare God’s glory, matching the hymn’s wonder at creation.
- Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his love through Christ’s death for sinners.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 The Lord’s return is announced with a commanding call from heaven.