A Song For A Sunday.

How Great Thou Art.

The original lyrics came from a poem by a Swedish preacher named as Carl Boberg, following a unique experience in Kronobäck, nearby to the hamlets Sjömålen and Oknebäck in Sweden.
It is understood that his inspiration came, having been caught in an evening thunderstorm, with lightning flashing across the sky followed quickly by heavy rain. Then came a rainbow and brilliant sunshine. Added to this scenario was a return to evening bird song coming from nearby trees.
This series of sights and sounds, including that of a church funeral bell playing the tune of “When eternity’s clock calls my saved soul to its Sabbath rest”, inspired the writing of a poem.

Later that evening Boberg wrote a nine-stanza poem, with the first stanza which read:-

O store Gud, när jag den verld beskådar,
Som du har skapat med ditt allmaktsord,
Hur der din visdom leder lifvets trådar,
Och alla väsen mättas vid ditt bord.

O great God, when I behold that world,
You have created with your omnipotent word,
How your wisdom guides the threads of life,
And all beings are fed at your table.

The full poem was published in the Mönsterås Tidningen (Mönsterås News) on March 13th 1886.

How Great Thou Art.

Vocals: American singer-songwriter Alan Eugene Jackson.
Original Lyrics: Swedish preacher, Carl Boberg, (1859-1940).
Literal English Translation: Professor of North Park College, Illinois, E. Gustav Johnson (1893-1974).
Current English Paraphrased 1949 Version: Written by Plymouth Brethren missionary Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (1899-1989)

Oh, Lord, my God,
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds, Thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rollin’ 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.
When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart?
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there 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.

END