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; 2who hast made heaven and earth, with all the 1 ornament thereof; 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; 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; 7for thou art the Lord Most High, of great compassion, longsuffering and abundant in mercy, and repentest 2 of bringing evils upon men. 83Thou, 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: 9for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions are multiplied, 4 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. 10I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head 5by reason of my sins, neither have I any respite: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done that which is evil before thee: 6I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied 7detestable things. 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: 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, 8 O Lord, art the God of them that repent; 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.