‘How Great Thou Art’ Gets a New Verse in Matt Redman Collaboration

January 26, 2024

The hymn “How Great Thou Art” marks its 75th anniversary in 2024 and songwriters and worship singers have teamed up to celebrate its legacy.

Christianity Today reports that Integrity Music has commissioned songwriters Matt Redman and Mitch Wong to contribute new lyrics for a collaborative recording that will feature a number of popular performers. Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, and Naomi Raine are reported to be among those who will participate in the collaboration.

Redman stated:

“We’ve got these two realities: the here and now, and the beautiful reality of God’s forever reign and ultimate plan.”

A video of the updated version of the hymn was released on Jan 26 and remains true to the original English text as well as the song’s history and international origin. It’s earliest roots can be found in a 19th Century Swedish poem that has been creatively adapted and shared for generations.

The newest verse of the hymn adds the words:

“Until that day 
When heaven bids us welcome,
And as we walk this broken warring world,
Your kingdom come,
Deliver us from evil,
And we’ll proclaim our God how great You are!”

How Great Thou Art has been a fixture in American culture going back to Billy Graham’s New York crusade at Madison Square Garden in 1957. It was also the title track of Elvis Presley’s album of the same name and earned the iconic singer his first Grammy.

Photo: top Credit: Matt Redman/Integrity Music