Manasseh, son of the righteous Hezekiah, reigned 55 years over Judah - the longest of any Judean king - and used every one of them to undo his father’s reforms and lead his nation into its darkest apostasy.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign He reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem

His mother’s name was Hephzibah He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight After the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out Before the children of Israel

For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed And he raised up altars for Baal and made an Asherah As Ahab king of Israel did And worshipped all the army of the sky and served them

He built altars in the LORD’s house Of which the LORD said I will put my name in Jerusalem He built altars for all the army of the sky In the two courts of the LORD’s house

He made his son to pass through the fire Practised sorcery used enchantments And dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards He did much evil in the LORD’s sight to provoke him to anger

He set the engraved image of Asherah that he had made In the house of which the LORD said to David And to Solomon his son In this house and in Jerusalem I will put my name forever

But they didn’t listen And Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil More than the nations did whom the LORD destroyed Before the children of Israel

The LORD spoke by his servants the prophets saying Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations And has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did Who were before him

I will bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah That whoever hears of it both his ears will tingle Manasseh shed innocent blood very much Until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another

Listen

2 Kings 21 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press