SK Hine brought to America a hymn that was the final result of almost seventy years of literary activity, involving several different writers and translators. In 1885 or 1886 Rev. Carl Boberg, a Swedish preacher, wrote the hymn, O Store Gud, (O Great God). In 1907 it was translated into German, and in 1912 into Russian. In 1927, the English missionaries Hine found it and stated using it in their ministry in the Ukraine. When W.W.II broke out Hine brought the English translation of the hymn with him to England and added a fourth stanza. He added the fourth stanza just after W.W.II, when many refugees from eastern Europe were streaming into England. The refugees were always asking, “When are we going home?” In the day we reach our heavenly home will we proclaim, with the hymn,”My God, How Great Thou Art.”
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.
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 see 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,
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!