THE
PRAYER OF MANASSES
KING OF JUDAH,
WHEN HE WAS HOLDEN CAPTIVE IN BABYLON.
1
1 O LORD Almighty, that art in heaven, thou God of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; 2 who hast made heaven and earth, with all the * ornament thereof; 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; 4 whom all things fear, yea, tremble before thy power; 5 for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and the anger of thy threatening toward sinners is importable: 6 thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; 7 for thou art the Lord Most High, of great compassion, longsuffering and abundant in mercy, and repentest † of bringing evils upon men. 8 ‡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, to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: 9 for 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. 10 I 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. 11 Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. 12 I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: 13 but, 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; 14 and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. 15 And 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.
* 1:2 Or, order Or, array Gen. ii. 1 (Sept.). † 1:7 Gr. of the evils of men. ‡ 1:8 The Alex. MS. omits Thou... saved. § 1:9 The Alex. MS. omits O Lord... multiplied. ** 1:10 Some authorities omit by reason of my sins. †† 1:10 The Alex. MS. omits I did... commandments. ‡‡ 1:10 Or, stumbling-blocks §§ 1:13 Another reading is, O God.