The Most Holy Name of Jesus

This is the hymn for Vespers for the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. I have always loved the melody of this hymn, and I was paying particular attention to the lyrics this time. The translation below is not exactly the same as in the book I was using, but it will do.

(Sorry about the formatting glitch in the last stanza; I don't have the patience to fix it right now!)

Jesu dulcis memoria,
Dans vera cordis gaudia:
Sed super mel, et omnia,
Ejus dulcis praesentia.

Nil canitur suavius,
Nil auditur jucundius,
Nil cogitatur dulcius,
Quam Jesus Dei Filius.

Jesu spes poenitentibus,
Quam pius es petentibus!
Quam bonus te quaerentibus!
Sed quid invenientibus?

Nec lingua valet dicere,
Nec littera exprimere:
Expertus potest credere,
Quid sit Jesum diligere.

Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus praemium:      
Sit nostra in te gloria,          
Per cuncta semper saecula.                                                                
Amen.                                                           

                                                        

*** *** *** *** ***                                 

Jesu, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than thy blest Name,
O Saviour of mankind!

O Hope of every contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show:
The love of Jesus, what it is
None but his loved ones know.

Jesu, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesu, be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.                                                              
Amen.