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Prayer Mondays: Pseudo-Manasseh

Barring my faulty memory (and if I’m not lazy) I want to post prayers on Monday from all over Church History and then throughout the modern day, and then my own. In 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 Manasseh, captured by the Assyrians, repents before God and prays. Scripture doesn’t record the prayer but someone (likely a Christian) decided to insert a prayer that they thought would be nice to include. As such, it was quickly used in parts of the Church that had access to the Greek text. Here is the prayer of pseudo-Manasseh.

O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who did create heaven and earth, with all their beautiful adornments;

who has bound the sea by the word of your commandment; who has shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before your power;

for the majesty of your glory cannot be borne, and your anger threatening toward sinners is importable: but your merciful promise is immeasurable and unsearchable;

for you are the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and turns against the evils of men.

You, O Lord, according to your great goodness has promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of your infinite mercies has appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.

You therefore, O Lord, that are the God of the just, has not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but you have appointed repentance unto me—a sinner: for the number of my sins are greater than 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 my iniquities.

I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up my head, neither have any release: for I have provoked your wrath, and done evil before you: I did not your will, neither kept I your commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.

Now therefore I bow the knee of my heart, begging you for grace.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my iniquities: wherefore, I humbly beg you , forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with my iniquities. Be not angry with me forever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower pares of the earth.

For you are the God, even the God of them that repent; and in me you will show all your goodness: for you will save me, that am unworthy, according to your great mercy.

Therefore I will praise you for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise you, and yours is the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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