Herzliebster Jesu
"Herzliebster Jesu" (often translated into English as "Ah, Holy Jesus", sometimes as "O Dearest Jesus") is a German hymn written in 1630 by Johann Heermann[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
The tune has been arranged many times, including settings by J.S. Bach (one of the Neumeister Chorales for organ, BWV 1093[1] and the St Matthew Passion) and Johannes Brahms (one of his Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ, Op. 122: No. 2[2]). Also Max Reger's "Passion", No. 4 from Seven Pieces for Organ, Op. 145 (1915–1916) ends in this melody.[citation needed]
Translations
The most common[3] English translation of this hymn was written by Robert S. Bridges in 1897 and begins with the first line "Ah, holy Jesus, how has thou offended?"[4] However, several Lutheran hymnals use a translation written in 1863 by Catherine Winkworth which begins "O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken?"[5] An alternative translation in modern English from the Choral Niagara website[6] is also shown below for comparison.
| Original German | Bridges translation |
|---|---|
| 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? |
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. |
| Winkworth translation | Choral Niagara translation |
| O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, What dark transgression? |
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? |
References
- ↑ "Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen". JSBach.org. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Brahms Complete Works". Catalogue. Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Text Results". Hymnary.org. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended". Hymnary.org. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Alas, dear Lord, what law then hast Thou broken". Hymnary.org. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030426032430/http://www.chorusniagara.ca/resources/passion/chorales.htm
