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
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 then proclaim
My God
How great Thou art
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
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 throughout the universe. The refrain answers with the soul singing to the Savior God, how great Thou art, repeated until it becomes the central confession.
The next verse marvels that God did not spare His Son but sent Him to die, bearing the burden on the cross and bleeding to take away sin. The final verse looks forward to the return of Christ with a shout of acclamation, taking the singer home with joy and 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 movement from creation to cross to return give the hymn a reverent, joyful tone.
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.