Herzliebster Jesu

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"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 Newes 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 Matthew Passion) and Johannes Brahms (a chorale prelude for organ, Op.122: No.2).

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.