Prayer of Manasseh
1:1 O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of
their righteous seed;
1:2 who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;
1:3 who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up
the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;
1:4 whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy
glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is
importable:
1:5 but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;
1:6 for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering,
very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord,
according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness
to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies
hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.
1:7 Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed
repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have
not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that
am a sinner:
1:8 for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My
transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are
multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven
for the multitude of mine iniquities.
1:9 I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head,
neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil
before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have
set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.
1:10 Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.
1:11 I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:
1:12 wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and
destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by
reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the
earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;
1:13 and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that
am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.
1:14 Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all
the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
