...and on earth peace to men of good will

Over the centuries since the angels first announced Christ's birth, the Christian world has done its best to set up Christ’s kingdom here on Earth.

Unfortunately, the result speaks for itself...

The original notion seems so easily lost: God will do for the human race what it cannot do for itself. Still we persist in trying, do we not?

Remember Longfellow's Civil War lament?

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Apparently there is no consensus on what the angels actually sang that night long ago. We dont know if they sang:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

or perhaps:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

or:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."

I'm no Biblical scholar, but with Longfellow and those scenes from the Mosul mess hall in mind, I'll take the latter...

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."