"For thoughI were right,I could not answer;I would have to implorethe mercyof my judge.
When he prayedto Him, He was movedby his entreatyand heardhis supplication,and broughthim againto Jerusalemto his kingdom.Then Manassehknewthat the LORD[was] God.
IfI am wicked,woeto me! And if I am righteous,I dare not liftup my head.[I am] satedwith disgraceand consciousof my misery.
"I will sayto God,Do not condemnme; Let me knowwhyYou contendwith me.
"You will prayto Him, and He will hearyou; And you will payyour vows.
"Therethe uprightwould reasonwith Him; And I would be deliveredforeverfrom my Judge.
"OnceI have spoken,and I will not answer;Even twice,and I will addnothingmore."
"But as for me, I would seekGod,And I would placemy causebeforeGod;
"Ifyou would seekGodAnd implorethe compassionof the Almighty,
"IfI calledand He answeredme, I could not believethat He was listeningto my voice.
"ThoughI am righteous,my mouthwill condemnme; Though I am guiltless,He will declareme guilty.
"I am guiltless;I do not takenoticeof myself;I despisemy life.
"With weepingthey will come,And by supplicationI will leadthem; I will make them walkby streamsof waters,On a straightpathin which they will not stumble;For I ama fatherto Israel,And Ephraimis My firstborn."
"O my God,inclineYour earand hear!OpenYour eyesand seeour desolationsand the citywhichis calledby Your name;for we are not presentingour supplicationsbeforeYou on accountof any meritsof our own, but on accountof Your greatcompassion.
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
For I am consciousof nothingagainst myself,yetI am not by thisacquitted;but the one who examinesme is the Lord.
and while being reviled,He did not revile in return;while suffering,He utterednothreats,but kept entrusting[Himself] to Him who judgesrighteously;
