Rediscovering the Prayer of Manasseh: A Cry of Repentance
From Lent to Luther, join "Bad" Books of the Bible to uncover the Prayer of Manasseh, a “bad” book rich with hope
As the Apostles Fast in the Orthodox Church is underway, we thought it might be appropriate to revisit a standalone episode on repentance from the “Bad” Books of the Bible podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
What ancient prayer could transform your approach to repentance today?
How did a notorious king’s plea become a Lenten treasure?
Can even the worst sinner find forgiveness through a heartfelt prayer?
Welcome back to our exploration of the Bible’s overlooked treasures! In our podcast, “Bad” Books of the Bible, for several years now we’ve been exploring the books of the Orthodox Old Testament that have been categorized as Deuterocanonical or Apocrypha by other Christians.
Today, we spotlight the Prayer of Manasseh—a brief, poetic plea for forgiveness that captures the heart of repentance. Whether you’re Orthodox, from another Christian or Jewish tradition, or simply curious, this “bad” book offers profound lessons for all. Let’s discover why the Prayer of Manasseh is a timeless gem!
What Is a Deuterocanonical Book?
As we’ve explained before, the Bible is a collection of sacred texts, and for the historic Christian tradition, this includes the so-called Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. In Orthodoxy, these are revered as inspired, while other denominations may label them Apocrypha or exclude them completely. Through “Bad” Books of the Bible, we’re showing these texts are far from “bad”—they’re brimming with faith, wisdom, and inspiration.
What Is the Prayer of Manasseh?
The Prayer of Manasseh, likely composed in the 2nd or 1st century BC by an unknown Jewish author, is a 15-verse penitential prayer attributed to King Manasseh of Judah, a 7th-century BC ruler infamous for idolatry and bloodshed (2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33). According to 2 Chronicles 33:11–13, Manasseh, captured by the Assyrians, repented in exile, and God restored him to Jerusalem. The prayer, absent from the Hebrew Bible but found in the Septuagint’s later manuscripts, confesses his sins—“more numerous than the sands of the sea” (v. 9)—and pleads for mercy, praising God’s compassion. Its poetic style, akin to Psalm 51, reflects a personal, heartfelt cry for forgiveness.1
For Orthodox Christians, the prayer is canonical, often appended to 2 Chronicles in the Septuagint. For non-Orthodox readers, it may appear as an appendix in some Protestant and Catholic Bibles, but its universal theme of repentance resonates widely.
Why the Prayer of Manasseh Matters
In the Orthodox Church, this prayer is a spiritual cornerstone, especially during Lent:
Repentance as Transformation: Manasseh’s shift from sinner to penitent models metanoia, the Orthodox call to change one’s heart, as seen in Great Compline’s penitential services.
Divine Mercy: The prayer’s plea for forgiveness (v. 13–14) echoes Orthodoxy’s view of God as “lover of mankind,” offering hope to all sinners.
Liturgical Use: Included in the Odes, a Septuagint collection of songs, it follows Hezekiah’s prayer and is chanted during Lent, reinforcing repentance’s centrality.
Personal Faith: Its individualistic tone reflects a Second Temple shift toward personal devotion—which resonates with Orthodox believers who are accustomed to personal confession.
For all readers, the prayer’s raw honesty—described by Protestant scholar Bruce Metzger as a “classic of penitential devotion”—speaks to anyone seeking redemption.
The Prayer Across Christian Traditions
The Prayer of Manasseh’s placement has varied, earning it the title of an “orphan” text. As noted already, Orthodox Christians embrace it as Scripture, often at 2 Chronicles’ end. Catholics historically included it as an appendix, though some editions like the New Jerusalem Bible omit it. Anglicans and Presbyterians sometimes use it in worship (e.g., as Canticle 14, Kyrie Pantokrator, in the Book of Common Prayer), despite its non-canonical status in Protestantism. Yet even Martin Luther cherished it, including it in his 1520 tract on confession, 1525 edition of the Pentateuch, and his 1529 prayer book, even citing it in a 1545 pamphlet to urge repentance for a tyrannical duke. Early Church Fathers like St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. John Chrysostom saw Manasseh as a repentance exemplar, making the prayer a bridge across centuries and traditions.
Why You Should Read the Prayer of Manasseh
This short prayer, equally cherished and elusive, fills a narrative gap—articulating Manasseh’s repentance—and teaches us how to turn to God. Its inclusion in diverse traditions, from Luther’s works to Presbyterian canticles, shows its enduring value.
Prayer of Manasseh (NRSV)
Ascription of Praise
O Lord Almighty,
God of our ancestors,
of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob
and of their righteous offspring;
you who made heaven and earth
with all their order;
who shackled the sea by your word of command,
who confined the deep
and sealed it with your terrible and glorious name;
at whom all things shudder,
and tremble before your power,
for your glorious splendor cannot be borne,
and the wrath of your threat to sinners is unendurable;
yet immeasurable and unsearchable
is your promised mercy,
for you are the Lord Most High,
of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful,
and you relent at human suffering.
O Lord, according to your great goodness
you have promised repentance and forgiveness
to those who have sinned against you,
and in the multitude of your mercies
you have appointed repentance for sinners,
so that they may be saved.
Therefore you, O Lord, God of the righteous,
have not appointed repentance for the righteous,
for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against you,
but you have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner.
Confession of Sins
For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea;
my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied!
I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven
because of the multitude of my iniquities.
I am weighted down with many an iron fetter,
so that I am rejected because of my sins,
and I have no relief;
for I have provoked your wrath
and have done what is evil in your sight,
setting up abominations and multiplying offenses.
Supplication for Pardon
And now I bend the knee of my heart,
imploring you for your kindness.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,
and I acknowledge my transgressions.
I earnestly implore you,
forgive me, O Lord, forgive me!
Do not destroy me with my transgressions!
Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me;
do not condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent,
and in me you will manifest your goodness;
for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy,
and I will praise you continually all the days of my life.
For all the host of heaven sings your praise,
and yours is the glory forever.
Amen.
Join the Journey
Have you read the Prayer of Manasseh? What do you think of its heartfelt plea for mercy? Share your thoughts in the comments and connect with others intrigued by these texts. We offer these teaching materials for free here and on Ancient Faith, and encourage you to share it with friends curious about the Bible’s hidden treasures.
Let’s rediscover the Prayer of Manasseh together—it might deepen your faith in unexpected ways!
Explore more about this prayer:
Listen to the original episode on Ancient Faith Radio.
Check it out on YouTube.
Note: Orthodox Bibles typically follow the Septuagint, so 2 Kings 21 is numbered as 4 Kingdoms 21, and 2 Chronicles 33 is 2 Paralipomenon (Supplements) 33, while Psalm 51 (Masoretic/Protestant, “Have mercy upon me, O God”) is Psalm 50, with virtually identical content despite numbering differences. These variations reflect the Septuagint’s distinct organization compared to the Masoretic Text used as the basis of the Old Testament text in Protestant and Jewish Bibles.
Thanks for sharing this!!
μετάνοια 😔❤️🩹🪞🔔