Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical Books

1 THE PRAYER OF MANASSES KING OF JUDAH, WHEN HE WAS HOLDEN CAPTIVE IN BABYLON.. 2 O LORD Almighty, that art in heaven, thou God (Elohim) of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; 3 who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; 4 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; 5 whom all things fear, yea, tremble before thy power; 6 for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and the anger of thy threatening toward sinners is importable: 7 thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; 8 for thou art the Lord Most High, of great compassion, longsuffering and abundant in mercy, and repentest of bringing evils upon men. 9 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 (Elohim) 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: 10 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. 11 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. 12 Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of Grace. 13 I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: 14 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 (Elohim) of them that repent; 15 and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. 16 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.