I believe that God,

because of Christ’s satisfaction,

will no longer remember

any of my sins

or my sinful nature

which I need to struggle against all my life.

Rather, by grace

God grants me the righteousness of Christ

to free me forever from judgment.

—Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 56

Consider the following suggestion for use with children:

This song is flexible and open to different interpretations. The accompaniment suggests a lilting, ballad-like rendering. Alternatively, it can be led with a driving, up-tempo rhythm with hand clapping on the off-beats and keyboard (and possibly other band instruments) improvising off the guitar chords.

Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, is set to a traditional Spanish “chorito,” or short chorus, known throughout Central and South America. It has now been included in several North American hymnals, and for the first time with this new English translation in Psalms for All Seasons (2012). 

Mary Louise (Mel) Bringle (b. 1953) is Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies and chair of the Humanities Division at Brevard College (Brevard, NC). A teacher at heart and a theologian by training (with a Ph.D. from Emory University and an assortment of publications in pastoral theology), she began writing hymn texts in 1999. Since that time, she has won a number of international hymnwriting competitions. GIA Publications, Inc. has published two single-author collections of her hymns (Joy and Wonder, Love and Longing in 2002, and In Wind and Wonder in 2007), as well as anthems written in collaboration with composers like William Rowan, Sally Morris, and others. Her texts and translations are included in publications from numerous denominations, including Roman Catholic, Mennonite, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Episcopalian, United Church of Canada, and Church of Scotland. She served as President of The Hymn Society and was chair of the committee that prepared Glory to God, the 2013 hymnal for the Presbyterian Church USA.

Marcus A. Hong, originally from Salt Lake City, graduated from Alma College in Michigan in religious studies, where he also served as a Student Ministry Coordinator, developing the student worship program; he then studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, receiving both an M.Div. and MA in Christian Education program in 2011, and then began a PhD program in Christian Education and Formation.  He served as a chaplain from 2011-2015 in Koinonia, the fellowship for Princeton Seminary’s PhD students.  He is co-author of UWorship (2014) and several of his musical arrangements were included in Psalms for All Seasons (2012).