Behold a Broken World

Behold a broken world we pray,
Where want and war increase,
And grant, Lord, in this our day,
The ancient dream of peace:

A dream of swords to sickles bent,
Of spears to scythe and spade,
The weapons of our warfare spent,
A world of peace remade;

Where every battle flag is furled
And every trumpet stilled,
Where wars shall cease in all the world,
A waking dream fulfilled.

No force of arms shall there prevail
Nor justice cease its sway;
Nor shall their loftiest visions fail
The dreamers of the day.

O Prince of Peace, who died to save,
A lost world to redeem,
And rose in triumph from the grave,
Behold our waking dream.

Bring, Lord, your better world to birth,
Your kingdom, love's domain,
Where peace with God, and peace on earth,
And peace eternal reign.

- The United Methodist Hymnal, Hymn 426 - "Behold a Broken World"