The Prayer of Manasses
King of
Juda
When he was holden captive in Babylon
O LORD, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
and of their righteous seed; who has made heaven and earth, with all the
ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment;
who has 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 but they merciful promise is
unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou are the most high LORD, of great
compassion, long-suffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils
of men. Thou, O LORD, according to thy great goodness hast promise
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, thou 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 into 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.
(Part of the
King James Bible, but often not known about, or considered slightly
aprocryphal.)