O Lord, Almighty
God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their
righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the
ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy
commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy
terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble
before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne,
and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable: but
thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou
art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very
merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord,
according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and
forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine
infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that
they may be saved. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of
the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against
thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that 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 for the multitude of mine iniquities. I
am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine
head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath,
and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I
thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have
multiplied offences. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart,
beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,
and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore, I humbly beseech
thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with
mine iniquities. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving
evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth.
For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent; and in
me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that
am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. Therefore I will
praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers
of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever
and ever. Amen. |