"Herzliebster Jesu" (usually translated into English as "Ah, Holy Jesus") is a German hymn written in 1630 by Johann Heermann and based on Isaiah 53:4. Its tune, also called "Herzliebster Jesu", was written ten years later by Johann Crüger. The hymn first appeared in Crüger's Neues vollkömmliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Confession.
The tune has been arranged many times, including settings by J.S. Bach (one of the Neumeister Chorales for organ, BWV 1093 and the St Matthew Passion) and Johannes Brahms (one of his Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ, Op.122: No.2). Also Max Reger's "Passion", No. 4 from Seven Pieces for Organ, Op. 145 (1915–1916) ends in this melody.
The original German first verse (of fifteen total verses) is as follows:
- Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen,
- Daß man ein solch scharf Urteil hat gesprochen?
- Was ist die Schuld? In was für Missetaten
- Bist du geraten?
The standard English first verse (of five):
- Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,
- That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?
- By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,
- O most afflicted.
A more accurate alternative translation in modern English from the Choral Niagara website is
- Beloved Jesus, what have you done wrong
- that they have pronounced so hard a sentence?
- What is your guilt, into what sort of misdeeds
- have you fallen?
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Famous quotes containing the word jesu:
“Jesu Crist us sende
Housbondes meke, yonge, and fresshe abedde,
And grace t’overbyde hem that we wedde.
And eek I preye Jesu shorte hir lyves
That wol nat be governed by hir wyves;
And olde and angry nigardes of dispence,
God sende hem sone verray pestilence.”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)