The Prayer of Manasseh

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

O LORD Almighty in heaven, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous offspring,

you who have made heaven and earth, with all their order,

who have bound the sea by the word of your commandment, who have shut up the deep, and sealed it by your terrible and glorious name,

whom all things fear, yes, tremble before your power,

for the majesty of your glory can’t be borne, and the anger of your threatening toward sinners is unbearable.

Your merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable,

for you are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, patient and abundant in mercy, and relent at human suffering.

(a)You, O Lord, according to your great goodness have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you. Of your infinite mercies, you have appointed repentance to sinners, that they may be saved. You therefore, O Lord, who are the God of the just, have not appointed repentance to the just, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against you, but you have appointed repentance to me who am a sinner.

For I have sinned more than the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions are multiplied,(b) O Lord, my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of my iniquities.

I am bowed down with many iron bands, so that I can’t lift up my head by reason of my sins,(c) neither have I any relief; for I have provoked your wrath, and done that which is evil before you:(d) I didn’t do your will, neither did I keep your commandments. I have set up abominations, and have multiplied detestable things.

Now therefore I bow the knee of my heart, asking you for grace.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my iniquities;

but, I humbly ask you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and please don’t destroy me with my iniquities. Don’t be angry with me forever, by reserving evil for me. Don’t condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent.

In me you will show all your goodness, for you will save me, who am unworthy, according to your great mercy.

Then I will praise you forever all the days of my life; for all the army of heaven sings your praise, and yours is the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)1:8 The Alex. MS. omits You... saved.

(b)1:9 The Alex. MS. omits O Lord... multiplied.

(d)1:10 The Alex. MS. omits I did... commandments.

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 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. 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 iniquities. 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.