Prex Manasse Rex: A royal contriction act as an example for Lent

The Prayer of Manasseh, though not a part of the Canon of Scripture proper, was included by St. Jerome in his Vulgate and the Council of Trent placed it in the Vulgate's Appendix as a part of the Apocrypha. Written sometime in the first 2 centuries BC, the Prayer of Manasseh is a classic of penitential devotion. It is associated with the wicked king of Judah, Manasseh, who composed a prayer in exile asking for forgiveness of his many sins (2Chr 33:13) and makes a fitting meditation for Confession.

O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers – of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- and of their righteous seed;

who made heaven and earth, with all the adornment thereof! 

Who hast bound the sea by the word of Your commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by Your awesome and glorious name; 

whom all men fear, and tremble before Your power; for the majesty of Your glory cannot be comprehended, and Your angry threatening toward sinners is overwhelming! 

But Your merciful promise is immeasurable and unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and You turn the evils of men toward repentance. 

You, O Lord, according to thy great goodness have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You: and by Your infinite mercies You have appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. 

You therefore, O Lord and the God of the just, have not appointed repentance for the just - for Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, who have not sinned against You - but You have appointed repentance unto me, for I am a sinner. 

My sins are more in number than 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 so many iron chains that I cannot life up my head. 

And, I have no right to complain, neither do I have any excuse; for I have provoked Your wrath, and done evil before You. I did not do Your will, neither did I follow your commandments. I have set up abominations, and have multiplied my offences. 

Now, therefore, I bow the knee of my heart, asking You for grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my iniquities! 

Wherefore, I humbly beg You to forgive me; O Lord, forgive me, and do not destroy me with my iniquities. 

Do not be angry with me forever; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For You are the God of those who repent; and in me thou wilt show forth all of Your great goodness! 

For You will save me, even though I am unworthy, because of 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 Yours is the glory for ever and ever. Amen