Ah Holy Jesu How Hast Thou Offended

This hymn is a meditation about Jesus' crucifixion. It is based on haerzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, a hymn by Johann Heermann (1585-1647).

It was translated by English medical doctor and poet, Robert S. Bridges (1844-1930).

With meter 11.11.11.5, tunes it is set to include:

HERZLIEBSTER JESU by German musician and composer, Johann Crüger (1598-1662).

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

PowerPoint
slides

Downloadable SATB choir arrangement, piano and optional trumpet by Larry Shackley

Examples

Singers with piano + violin / light-orchestra, words on-screen:

Choir, unaccompanied:

Choir with organ:

Singer with piano, contemporary arrangement:

Band with audience - piano-led:

Instrumental - guitar:

Instrumental - piano:

Lyrics

Traditional language

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.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee:
I crucified thee.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinnèd, and the Son hath suffered;
for our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.

For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.

Modern English

Ah, holy Jesus, how have You offended,
that man to judge You have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by Your own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon You?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone You.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied You:
I crucified You.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave has sinned, and the Son has suffered;
for our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.

For me, kind Jesus, was Your incarnation,
Your mortal sorrow, and Your life’s oblation;
Your death of anguish and Your bitter passion,
for my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay You,
I do adore You, and will ever pray,
think on Your pity and Your love unswerving,
not my deserving.