O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers,
of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
and of their righteous offspring;
you who made heaven and earth, with all their order;
who bound the sea by the word of your command;
who closed the deep, and sealed it by your terrible and glorious name;
whom all things fear, and tremble before your power;
for the majesty of your glory cannot be borne,
and your threatened anger upon sinners is unbearable.
But immeasurable and unsearchable is the mercy of your promise;
for you are the Lord Most High,
of great compassion, long-suffering,
and very merciful, and repent of the evils of men.
You, Lord, according to your great goodness,
have promised repentance and forgiveness
to those who have sinned against you;
and in the multitude of your mercies,
you have appointed repentance unto sinners,
that they may be saved.
You therefore, O Lord, who are the God of the just,
have not appointed repentance to the just,
as to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned against you;
but you have appointed repentance to me, who 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
because of the multitude of my iniquities.
I am bowed down with many iron bands,
so that I cannot lift up my head.
Neither have I any rest,
for I have provoked your wrath,
and done that which is evil in your sight.
Now I bow the knee of my heart,
beseeching you of grace.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,
and I acknowledge my iniquities;
but, I implore you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me.
Destroy me not with my iniquities.
Don't be angry with me forever, by reserving evil for me;
neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth.
For you are the God, even the God of those who repent;
and in me you will show all your goodness;
for you will save me, who am unworthy,
according to your great mercy.
Therefore I will praise you forever
all the days of my life;
for all the powers of the heavens praise you,
and to you is glory forever and ever.
Amen.
The Prayer of Manasseh
Also known as Prayer of King Manasseh ยท Oratio Manassis
About this prayer
The Prayer of Manasseh is a short penitential prayer attributed to King Manasseh of Judah (reigned c. 697-643 BC), one of the most notorious kings in the Hebrew Bible. According to 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33, Manasseh promoted idolatry, child sacrifice, and the worship of foreign gods for fifty-five years in Jerusalem, leading Judah into widespread apostasy. In 2 Chronicles 33:10-13, however, the text records that Manasseh was taken captive by the Assyrians, repented in his captivity, prayed to God, was restored to his throne in Jerusalem, and spent the remainder of his reign reforming the worship he had earlier corrupted. The Prayer of Manasseh is presented as the prayer of repentance that Manasseh offered while in captivity.
The prayer is not in the Hebrew Bible. It appears in some Greek Septuagint manuscripts (as an addition to 2 Chronicles), in the Latin Vulgate as an appendix, and in the broader Christian liturgical tradition as a deuterocanonical or apocryphal text. The Eastern Orthodox churches include it in their canonical scripture. The Roman Catholic Church does not consider it canonical scripture but includes it in the Vulgate as an appendix. The Protestant traditions place it in the Apocrypha; it appears in the 1611 King James Bible's Apocrypha section.
The Prayer of Manasseh is theologically one of the most striking penitential prayers in the biblical literature. It contains no excuses, no minimization, no shifting of blame. Manasseh acknowledges his sins explicitly, describes the weight of guilt, and appeals only to God's mercy. The prayer's theology of repentance has been influential across all Christian traditions and especially in liturgical penitential practice.
The English translation included here is from the World English Bible (WEB) Apocrypha section, a public-domain modern translation.
When it's said
Used in Eastern Orthodox liturgy during Great Compline in Lent and at the Service of Forgiveness. Used in Catholic devotion as a penitential prayer, particularly during Lent. Included in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (1979 American form and others) as a canticle option for Daily Prayer. Used in personal devotion as a penitential prayer for moments of acknowledged serious sin or sustained reflection on one's spiritual condition. Sometimes used in confession or as preparation for confession.
Notes on the text
The historical question of whether the Prayer of Manasseh was actually composed by King Manasseh is generally answered negatively by modern scholars. The prayer's Greek is consistent with the late Hellenistic period (2nd century BC to 1st century AD), several centuries after Manasseh's actual reign. The prayer is best understood as a Jewish devotional composition from the late Second Temple period, attributed to Manasseh because of the biblical reference to his repentance in 2 Chronicles 33. Whether or not Manasseh composed the prayer, its theological content represents a high point of Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Jewish theology of repentance. The contrast between Manasseh's recorded sins (one of the worst kings in the biblical record) and the prayer's expression of complete repentance and acceptance by God is theologically powerful.
Common questions
Is the Prayer of Manasseh in the Bible?
Did King Manasseh actually write this prayer?
When is the Prayer of Manasseh used in worship?
Anonymous Hellenistic Jewish composition, c. 2nd century BC, attributed to King Manasseh of Judah. English translation from the World English Bible (WEB) Apocrypha. Public domain.
Last reviewed: June 2026 against primary source.