Manasses chapter 1

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[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] This chapter is the prayer of king Manasses of Judah when he repented.

 

 

The Prayer of Manasses is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches

 

 

MANASSES INVOKES THE GOD OF HIS ANCESTORS

 

VERSE 1. O LORD Almighty in heaven, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous offspring,

God of our fathers. Manasses invokes the God of our ancestors.

 

VERSE 2. you who have made heaven and earth, with all their order,

made heaven and earth. The New Testament says the eternal Son of God created the universe. Read more »

with all their order. The heavens and earth are a ordered realms. They are not realms of chaos.

 

VERSE 3. who have bound the sea by the word of your commandment, who have shut up the deep, and sealed it by your terrible and glorious name,

 

VERSE 4. whom all things fear, yes, tremble before your power,

 

VERSE 5. for the majesty of your glory can’t be borne, and the anger of your threatening toward sinners is unbearable.

 

VERSE 6. Your merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable,

 

VERSE 7. for you are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, patient and abundant in mercy, and relent at human suffering.

 

MANASSES CONFESSES HIS SINS

 

VERSE 8. You, O Lord, according to your great goodness have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you. Of your infinite mercies, you have appointed repentance to sinners, that they may be saved. You therefore, O Lord, who are the God of the just, have not appointed repentance to the just, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against you, but you have appointed repentance to me who am a sinner.

You, O Lord … they may be saved. The Alexandrian manuscript omits that sentence.

 

VERSE 9. For I have sinned more than 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 my iniquities.

O Lord, my transgressions are multiplied. The Alexandrian manuscript omits that phrase.

 

VERSE 10. I am bowed down with many iron bands, so that I can’t lift up my head by reason of my sins, neither have I any relief; for I have provoked your wrath, and done that which is evil before you: I didn’t do your will, neither did I keep your commandments. I have set up abominations, and have multiplied detestable things.

by reason of my sins. Some authorities omit that phrase.

I didn’t do your will, neither did I keep your commandments. The Alexandrian manuscript omits that phrase.

 

MANASSES ASKS FOR FORGIVENESS

 

VERSE 11. Now therefore I bow the knee of my heart, asking you for grace.

I bow the knee of my heart. This imagery is not found elsewhere in the Deuterocanonicals.

 

VERSE 12. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my iniquities;

I have sinned. In this verse, Manasses says this phrase twice.

 

VERSE 13. but, I humbly ask you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and please don’t destroy me with my iniquities. Don’t be angry with me forever, by reserving evil for me. Don’t condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent.

forgive me. In this verse, Manasses says this phrase twice.

the God of those who repent. This phrase is not exclusionary.

The LORD God is the God of all people, and not just of those who repent.

 

VERSE 14. In me you will show all your goodness, for you will save me, who am unworthy, according to your great mercy.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Prayer of Manasses and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 15. Then I will praise you forever all the days of my life; for all the army of heaven sings your praise, and yours is the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

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MANASSES

CHAPTERS: 01

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