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Great Compline Page 26 of 50
The Prayer of Manasses, King of Judea:
O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;
Who hast made heaven and the earth with all their majesty; Who
hast bound the sea by the word of Thy commandme nt;
Who hast closed the abyss, and sealed it by Thy terrible and
glorious name; of Whom all things are afraid, and tremble from
the presence of Thy might;
for no one can endure the majesty of Thy glory, and unbearable is
the wrath of Thy threatening toward sinners, but immeasurable
and unsearchable is the mercifulness of Thy promise;
for Thou art the Lord most High, compassionate, long-suffering,
and plenteous in mercy, and repentest of the evils of men:
Thou, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy goodness, hast
promised penitence and forgiveness to them that have sinned
against Thee, and in the multitude of Thy compassions hast
decreed repentance for the salvation of sinners.
Thou, therefore, O Lord God of hosts, hast not appointed
repentance for the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,
who have not sinned against Thee, but hast laid repentance upon
me a sinner, for I have sinned more than the number of the sands
of the sea.
Mine iniquities are multiplied, and I am not worthy to look upon
and to see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine
iniquities.
For I am bowed down with many iron bands so that I cannot lift up
my head, and there is no release for me, because I have
provoked Thine anger, and done evil before Thee, neither having
done Thy will, nor having kept Thy commandments;
and now I bow the knees of my heart, beseeching of Thee
clemency.