Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

954.0. "The Prayer of Manasses (KJV)" by COVERT::COVERT (John R. Covert) Sat Jul 30 1994 17:44

                                   The
                            PRAYER OF MANASSES
                              King of Judah
                  When he was holden captive in Babylon

	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.