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<h2><SPAN name="chap13"></SPAN>The Prayer of Manasses<br/> King of Judah</h2>
<p>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.</p>
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