(Strophe)
Poor World! that in wickedness liest
Enthrall'd by the powers of ill,
And, groaning and travailing, sighest
For better and happier still,--
Lo! here is a chance
For helping the right,
And forcing advance
In the enemy's sight,
By godly confession and brotherly love;
By owning on Whom thou reliest,
And openly trusting the Ruler above;
By bidding the very first thrill
On the nerve of this telegraph wire
Be -- nothing of science, or profit and loss;
But, flashing electrical deeper and higher,
Let the first heart-stirring message across--
(O Message! rejoice as thou fliest,
All saints and all angels who fill
Infinity farthest and nighest)--
Be -- 'Glory to God in the Highest!
Peace upon Earth, and Goodwill!'

(Antistrophe)
Ay, Man! who with energy triest
To conquer by strength or by skill,
Resolved, though in body thou diest,
In spirit to wrestle up-hill,
Lo! here is a gain
To be won by a word,
If under the main
The first that is heard
Be brotherly kindness and heavenly praise;
If, while thou in courage defiest
The winds and the waves and all perils always,
Enslaving those giants, until
They meekly obey thy desire,--
If thus, the first whisper that proves thee their lord,
Their master and gaoler by fetters of fire,
Be this -- the sublimest and happiest word--
(O Message! rejoice as thou fliest,
All saints and all angels who fill
Infinity farthest and nighest)--
Be -- 'Glory to God in the Highest!
Peace upon Earth, and Goodwill!'