Prayer of Manasses 1

1O Lord Almighty, that art in heaven, thou God of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;[#Mat. 6.9. Luke 11.2 (mg.).; #See Ex. 3.6.; #Cp. Ecclus. 10.19.]

2who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;[#1.2 Or order Or array Gen. 2.1 ( Gk. ).]

3who 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;[#See Job 38.8-11.]

4whom all things fear, yea, tremble before thy power;

5for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and the anger of thy threatening toward sinners is importable:

6thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;[#Rom. 11.33. Eph. 3.8.]

7for thou art the Lord Most High, of great compassion, longsuffering and abundant in mercy, and repentest of bringing evils upon 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.[#Joel 2.13. Ecclus. 2.11. See Ps. 86.15.; #1.7 Gr. of the evils of men.; #1.7 The Alex. MS. omits Thou . . . saved.; #Cp. 2 Cor. 7.10.]

8Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:[#Cp. Wis. 12.19.]

9for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions are multiplied, O Lord: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities.[#Cp. Ps. 40.12.; #Is. 59.12.; #1.9 The Alex. MS. omits O Lord . . . multiplied.; #Cp. Ezra 9.6 & Ps. 40.12.]

10I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head by reason of my sins, neither have I any respite: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done that which is evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied detestable things.[#Cp. 2 Chr. 33.11.; #Cp. Ezra 9.6 & Ps. 40.12.; #1.10 Some authorities omit by reason of my sins.; #1.10 The Alex. MS. omits I did . . . commandments.; #Cp. 2 Kin. 21.2,11 & 2 Chr. 33.7.; #1.10 Or stumbling blocks]

11Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.

12I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:[#Ps. 51.3.]

13but, 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, O Lord, art the God of them that repent;[#Is. 44.23. See Ps. 63.9.; #1.13 Another reading is O God.]

14and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.

15And I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the host of heaven doth sing thy praise, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.[#Cp. Ps. 103.21 & 148.2.; #1 Chr. 29.11. 1 Esd. 4.59. Mat. 6.13 (mg.).]

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