Prayer of Manasseh
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.