O Gud, som ej de spädas röst föraktar

Author: Jesper Svedberg

Biship of Skara, Sweden. He was entrusted in creating the first book ever of Swedish hymns, known today as "Swedberg's Book of Hymns, printed in 1694. It was soon declared heretical by some, because it focused too much on good works and not enough on faith. The whole edition was revoked, however, not before some copies made their way to Swedish colonies overseas. A new edition was published containing about 500 hymns, 30 of which bore Swedberg's name as author or translator. Several of these are still in the modern Swedish Book of Hymns. Go to person page >

Alterer: Johan Olof Wallin

Johan Olaf Wallin was born at Stora Tuna, in 1779, and early displayed his poetical powers. In 1805, and again in 1809, he gained the chief prize for poetry at Upsala. In the latter year he became pastor at Solna; here his ability as a preacher was so striking that he was transferred to Stockholm, in 1815, as "pastor primarius," a title for which we have no exact equivalent. In 1818 he was made Dean of Westeras, and set about the task of editing a revised hymn-book for the whole of Sweden. This task he completed in 1819, and published it as, Den Swenska Psalmboken, af Konungen gillad och stadfästad (The Swedish hymn-book, approved and confirmed by the King). To it he contributed some 150 hymns of his own, besides translations and recasting… Go to person page >