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¹ O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;
² Who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;
³ Who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment;
⁴ Who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;
⁵ Whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power;
⁶ For the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable:
⁷ But thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;
⁸ For thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men.
⁹ Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee:
¹⁰ And of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.
¹¹ 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;
¹² But thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:
¹³ For I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea.
¹⁴ 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.
¹⁵ I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any release:
¹⁶ For I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee:
¹⁷ I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments:
¹⁸ I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.
¹⁹ Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.
²⁰ I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:
²¹ Wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities.
²² Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth.
²³ For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;
²⁴ And in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness:
²⁵ For thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.
²⁶ Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life:
²⁷ For all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
🌿 Introduction: The Heart of True Repentance
The Prayer of Manasses is a deeply moving single-chapter work found in the Apocrypha. Though short, this prayer offers a profound glimpse into the heart of a once-rebellious king who turns fully back to God. Manasses, king of Judah, had defiled the temple and led his people into grievous sin. Yet in captivity, broken and humbled, he utters one of the most contrite and sincere prayers found in Scripture.
“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.” – Prayer of Manasses 1:8
This sacred plea is a treasure for all who seek restoration, showing that no sin is too great for God’s mercy when one turns to Him in genuine repentance.
📜 Structure of the Prayer of Manasses
Verses 1–3: Acknowledging God’s Majesty
The prayer begins with an exaltation of God’s greatness. Manasses addresses the Lord as the “God of our fathers,” the creator of all things, and the righteous judge who shows mercy to those who turn to Him. This opening orients the prayer in reverence, acknowledging God’s holiness and sovereignty.
Verses 4–7: Confession and Remorse
Manasses confesses his sins with raw honesty. He owns his transgressions without excuse—recognizing his idolatry, pride, and rebellion. He understands the justice of his punishment but appeals to God’s enduring mercy. His language is soaked in sorrow and sincerity, modeling the kind of repentance God desires.
Verses 8–13: Plea for Mercy and Restoration
In the final verses, Manasses turns from confession to supplication. He asks for forgiveness not based on his worthiness, but on God’s enduring compassion. He vows to praise the Lord continually, promising to serve Him in righteousness. The closing reveals a heart fully surrendered.
💡 Key Themes
✨The Power of Repentance
No matter how dark one’s past, God hears the brokenhearted. Manasses’ words echo Psalm 51:17: “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
✨ Mercy Over Judgment
This prayer showcases God’s willingness to extend grace to those who genuinely turn back to Him. God’s justice does not override His mercy—it reveals it.
✨Transformation Through Suffering
Captivity was not Manasses’ end—it was his turning point. God often uses trials to bring us to repentance and shape our character.
👤 Key People
- Before the Prayer: One of Judah’s most wicked kings, he practiced sorcery, idolatry, and even child sacrifice.
- During Captivity: Humbled by affliction, he turned to God with his whole heart.
- After the Prayer: Manasses was restored to his kingdom and spent the rest of his reign removing idols and restoring proper worship.
🔥 Why the Prayer of Manasses Matters
The Prayer of Manasses is a rare and precious gem in Scripture, a short yet powerful cry of repentance from a king who had once plunged deep into wickedness. Though his sins were grievous—sorcery, idolatry, even bloodshed—Manasseh humbled himself before the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. His prayer reveals the overwhelming mercy of God, who is “slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Joel 2:13), and ready to forgive the truly penitent.
This book matters because it shows that no one is too far gone for God’s grace. It breaks the chains of guilt and hopelessness, reminding readers that true repentance brings restoration. In a world where many wrestle with shame, regret, and a longing for a clean slate, the Prayer of Manasses offers a beacon of hope. It declares that when we turn back to the Lord with sincerity, He will turn toward us with mercy.
“For thou, O Lord, art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just… but hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner.” — Prayer of Manasses 1:8
💭 Let’s Reflect
- Have you ever felt too far from God to be forgiven? What does Manasses’ story teach you about the reach of God’s mercy?
- Do you confess with humility, or do you try to justify your sin?
- What part of your life is God calling you to surrender completely?