"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a Christian hymn originally written by preacher Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother, who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s. The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn. The hymn also has many versions with different lyrics in multiple languages. The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal notes, "In spite of the fact that this hymn, with its tune, has been criticized as being too much on the order of the sentimental gospel type, its popularity remains strong, and the hymn retains a place in modern hymnals." In some settings, the lyrics have been matched to other tunes such as the Welsh "Calon Lân".
Amy Grant recorded it as part of the medley "What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art" on her 2002 studio albumLegacy... Hymns and Faith, and later included on her 2015 compilation album Be Still and Know... Hymns & Faith.
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
Ronnie Milsap
Monty Alexander
In Asia
In Japan, the hymn's title was originally translated as "Itsukushimi Fukaki", which is what it is best known by. In 1910, Daisui Sugitani re-wrote the lyrics in Japanese and changed the title to "Hoshi no Yo". Another version was written by Ryūkō Kawaji with the title "Hoshi no Sekai". It is also known by the title "Tsumitoga o Ninou". The hymn is popular at wedding ceremonies in Japan. Both hymn instrumentals of "Hoshi no Sekai" and "Itsukushimi Fukaki" are used as background music for Key's 2004 visual novel , arranged by Magome Togoshi. In Indonesia, the hymn is known as "Yesus Kawan yang Sejati" and is sung in Indonesian or Batak in Manado, Maluccan, and Protestant churches. Statistically, the majority of Indonesians are Muslim but native religion elements have up to 90% of the total population and consequently the hymn is widely known only among musicians, scholars and Indonesia's Christian community. However, prior to when Suharto seized power in 1967, the same music was adopted for a popular patriotic song titled "Ibu Pertiwi". In Hindi, the hymn is a very important song and is sung as "Yeshu kaisa dost pyara". In Marathi, the hymn has been translated as "Kon Mitra Yeshuwani" By Mary Bessel. The song is common during solemn services. In Malayalam, the hymn as "Enthu Nallore sakhi Yesu" is sung to comfort and as an invitation to Christ. This hymn had been translated into Telugu and it is sung during occasions as a song of comfort and solace. It is translated as "Preethi gala mana Yesu" and it is listed in the Andhra Kraisthava Keerthanalu as hymn No. 407. In India, the hymn sung in Konkani, "Dulob Jezu", was translated by Felix Paul Noronha of Mangalore.
