Here is my translation of the Jesus hymn, “Jesu clemens pië Deus” (Johann Wilhelm Petersen, d. 1727), in ELGB #336, first appearing in the Geistreiches Gsb Halle (1697) with title “Suspiria animae Jesum quaerentis,” i.e., sigh of a soul desiring Jesus. It forms part of the contents of Petersen’s planned Latin hymn collection, Cythara sacra, which was left in MS form at his death. Fischer further mentions a German revision of the hymn beginning “Jesu, der du deine Liebe.” No melody is indicated in the Buffalo Synod hymnal. In Freylinghausen 1704ff., a setting of “Gott sei Dank in aller Welt” is provided. A different melody or choral setting is found in Bachofen’s Musicalisches Halleluja of 1743 (and earlier in Zollikofer in 1738). A third, simpler melody perhaps related to Freylinghausen is found in Psalmody Translated from the High German (1767).
JESUS, gentle, faithful Savior!
Jesus, my Desire forever!
With what good can I compare Thee,
God the Son of God and Mary?
2 Who can name aught good above Thee,
Or what joy it is to love Thee,
To be with Thee faith-united,
And with Thee in mind delighted?
3 Grant me pow’r to show the sweetness
Of Thy love in its completeness:
With Thee suff’ring, with Thee weeping,
With Thee joyful ever keeping.
4 Majesty unbound, abiding,
Love and Hope and Life providing!
Make us fit to stand before Thee
And to see Thee there in glory.
5 That beholding and partaking,
We may joy, glad anthems making.
Grant us blessedly to see it:
Amen, Jesus, ever be it!
Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.
LATIN
Jesu clemens pie Deus
Jesu dulcis, amor meus,
Jesu bone, Jesu pie,
Fili Dei et Mariae.
2 Quisnam possit enarrare,
quam jucundum te amare,
tecum fide sociari,
tecum mente delectari.
3 Fac ut possim demonstrare,
quam sit dulce te amare,
tecum pati, tecum flere,
tecum semper congaudere.
4 O Majestas infinita!
amor noster, spes et vita,
fac nos dignos te videre,
tecum semper permanere.
5 Ut videntes et fruentes
jubilemus et cantemus,
in beata caeli vita.
Amen, Jesu fiat ita.
