These two versions are essentially the same, but in some places they use slightly different wording
and different punctuation.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this
continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or
any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met
here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a
portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their
lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this.
But in a larger sense we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we
can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who
struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or
detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say
here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living,
rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus
far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to
the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we
take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last
full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of
freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this
continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or
any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met
on a great battle field of that war. We come to dedicate a portion of
it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation
might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we
can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this
ground -- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will
little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never
forget what they did here.
It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task
remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased
devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure
of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have
died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and
that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not
perish from the earth.
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