Jesu, priceless treasure

Jesu, priceless treasure. Johann Franck* (1618-1677), translated by Catherine Winkworth* (1827-1878). The German text, beginning ‘Jesu, meine Freude’*, was published in Christoph Runge* and Johann Crüger*’s 1653 book (sometimes called ‘the Crüger-Runge Gesangbuch’), D.M. Luthers und anderer vornehmen geistreichen und gelehrten Männer Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen; then in C. Peter’s Andachts Zymbeln (‘Sounds of Worship’, Freiburg, 1655); and then in Johann Crüger*’s Praxis Pietatis Melica (Frankfurt, 1656) with the tune to which it is still sung, called JESU MEINE FREUDE. The hymn was a Christianising of a German love song, ‘Flora meine Freude’ (‘Flora my joy’) which is found in a...