The Prayer of Manassehor, The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah
{1:1} O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made
heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; 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; 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: but thy
merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; 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.
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: 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. I am
bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life 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. Now therefore
I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I
have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge
mine iniquities: 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; and
in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save
me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.
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.