Behold a Broken World

1 Behold a broken world, we pray,
where want and war increase,
and grant us, Lord, in this our day,
the ancient dream of peace:

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

3 Where every battle-flag is furled
and every trumpet stilled,
where wars shall cease in all the world,
a waking dream fulfilled.

4 No force of arms shall there prevail
nor justice cease her sway;
nor shall their loftiest visions fail
the dreamers of the day.

5 O Prince of peace, who died to save,
a lost world to redeem,
and rose in triumph from the grave,
behold our waking dream.

6 Bring, Lord, your better world to birth,
your kingdom, love's domain;
where peace with God, and peace on earth,
and peace eternal reign.

• Audio recording from The United Methodist Hymnal #426