Fairest Lord Jesus
German hymn, 17th century · 1677
translated 1850; final stanza translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1873
The story behind the hymn
Fairest Lord Jesus first appeared in a German hymnal in 1677 and travelled into English through nineteenth-century translations. It has long been nicknamed the Crusaders' Hymn, though the legend linking it to the crusades has no historical basis.
The hymn's method is comparison: it sets Jesus beside everything the eye finds lovely — meadows, woodlands, sunshine, moonlight, the twinkling starry host — and finds him fairer, brighter, purer than them all.
It is adoration at its simplest: no argument, just the soul's crown placed on the worthiest head — Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.
The lyrics
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,O Thou of God and man the Son;Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honour,Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,Robed in the blooming garb of spring:Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,And all the twinkling starry host:Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer,Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Public domain. Free to sing, copy, print, and share.
The Scripture behind it
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Thou art fairer than the children of men — the hymn's seed verse.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
By him were all things created — the Ruler of all nature.