| "Herzliebster Jesu" | |
| Type: | Lutheran Passion hymn |
| Image Upright: | 0.9 |
| Catalogue: | Zahn 983 |
| Translation: | "O dearest Jesus" |
| Native Name Lang: | de |
| Genre: | Hymn |
| Text: | by Johann Heermann |
| Meter: | 11.11.11.5 |
| Language: | German |
| Melody: | by Johann Crüger |
"Herzliebster Jesu" (often translated into English as "Ah, Holy Jesus", sometimes as "O Dearest Jesus") is a Lutheran Passion hymn in German, written in 1630 by Johann Heermann, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines, first published in Devoti Musica Cordis in Breslau.[1] As the original headline reveals, it is based on Augustine of Hippo; this means the seventh chapter of the so-called "Meditationes Divi Augustini", presently ascribed to John of Fécamp.[2]
The tune, Zahn No. 983, was written ten years later by Johann Crüger and first appeared in Crüger's Neues vollkömmliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Confession.[3]
The tune has been used many times, including settings by J.S. Bach: one of the Neumeister Chorales for organ, BWV 1093,[4] two movements of the St John Passion, and three of the St Matthew Passion.[5] Johannes Brahms used it for one of his Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ, Op. 122: No. 2.[6]). Max Reger's Passion, No. 4 from his organ pieces Sieben Stücke, Op. 145 (1915–1916), uses this melody. Mauricio Kagel quoted the hymn, paraphrased as "Herzliebster Johann, was hast du verbrochen", in his oratorio Sankt-Bach-Passion telling Bach's life, composed for the tricentenary of Bach's birth in 1985.
Christian Fürchtegott Gellert wrote his Passion hymn "German: Herr, stärke mich, dein Leiden zu bedenken|italic=no" (Lord, strengthen me to reflect on your suffering) to the same melody, first published in 1757.
The most common[7] English translation of this hymn was written by Robert Bridges in 1897 and begins with the first line "Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended?"[8] However, several Lutheran hymnals use a translation written in 1863 by Catherine Winkworth which begins "O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken?"[9] An alternative translation in modern English from the Choral Niagara website[10] 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? |