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Updated 09/04/2020

 

In Heaven Above

The song, “In Heaven Above” is attributed to Laurentius Laurentii Laurinus in 1622. Laurinus became a principal in Söderköping, Sweden, in 1603, and in 1609, a rector in Haradshammar in Linköping diocese, Östergötland, later a dean. But he was best known as a poet in the Swedish, German and Latin languages.

The song was translated by William Maccall and Adapted by John Åström. Maccall was born at Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland, Feb. 25, 1812. In 1868, he published several translations from the Danish as Hymns of Denmark by Gilbert Tait. He has also published Hymns of Sweden rendered into English. Åström was Lutheran. Ordained in 1793, he was briefly pastor of the German church in Norrkoeping, then appointed rector (1805) at Tuna and Stavby and (1821) at Sigtune and Altuna; assisted Archbishop J.O. Wallin in preparing the Psalmbok (1816-1818). The 1819 edition contained 11 of his hymns and several translations.


Lyrics

  In heaven above, in heaven above,
where God our Father dwells:
how boundless there the blessedness!
No tongue its greatness tells.
There face to face, and full and free,
the ever living God we see,
our God, the Lord of hosts!

In heaven above, in heaven above,
what glory deep and bright!
The splendor of the noonday sun
grows pale before its light.
The mighty sun that goes not down,
before whose face clouds never frown,
is God, the Lord of hosts!

In heaven above, in heaven above,
no tears of pain are shed,
for nothing there can fade or die;
life’s fullness round is spread,
and like an ocean, joy overflows,
and with immortal mercy glows
our God, the Lord of hosts!

In heaven above, in heaven above,
God has a joy prepared,
which mortal ear has never heard,
nor mortal vision shared,
which never entered mortal thought,
in mortal dreams was never sought,
O God, the Lord of hosts!