Once most of us hear the famous line that’s also the title of the speech and is repeated throughout the essay, we recognize the broadcast almost immediately. “If I were the De-vil,” Paul Harvey famously said in 1965 before discussing issues we are faced with today. However, although Harvey’s words have an undeniable truth, they may not be as prophetic as some might believe.

Yes, Paul Harvey originally wrote his famous “If I Were The De-vil” essay in 1964. The broadcast of the essay aired in 1965, and it is still popular today. But, the current rendition that often circulates the internet was updated by Harvey to reflect current events throughout his life, which sadly ended in 2009. The oldest genuine Paul Harvey version of this piece we’ve found thus far appeared in his newspaper column in 1964:

If I Were the De-vil

If I were the Prince of Dar-kness I would want to eng-ulf the whole earth in dar-kness.

I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree.

So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States.

I would begin with a campaign of whispers.

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whispers to you as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please.”

To the young I would whisper “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that “man created God,” instead of the other way around. I would confide that “what is bad is good and what is good is square.”

In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would cau-tion them not to be “extr-eme” in religion, in patriotism, in moral con-duct.

And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — “Our father which are in Washington.”

Then I’d get organized.

I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.

I’d thre-aten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.

I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.

I’d peddle na-rc-otics to whom I could, I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I’d tranquilize the rest with pi-lls.

If I were the De-vil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.

I’d designate an ath-eist to front for me before the highest courts and I’d get preachers to say, “She’s right.”

With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of po-r*ography.

Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.

Then in his own churches I’d substitute psychology for religion and deify science.

If I were Sa-tan I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg

And the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the De-vil I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had ki-ll-ed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my po-lice state would fo-rce everybody back to work.

Then I would separate families, putting chil-dren in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in sla-ve lab-or c-amps.

If I were Sa-tan I’d just keep doing what I’m doing and the whole world go to h-ell as sure as the De-vil.

[Source: Harvey, Paul. “If I Were the De-vil I Would Pray, Our Father Who Art in Washington.” Gadsden Times. Oct 13, 1964 (p.4).]

A 1996 newspaper version of Paul Harvey’s “If I were the De-vil,” which actually seems to be what’s heard in the video above, is often what’s heard today and mistakenly believed to be the same piece from the 60s. However, there are key differences.

Although it kept the concept and structure of the original essay, the 1996 version evolved the content to include the current events of that time. Even so, this version is still over two decades old and very on point with what our nation is experiencing now:

If I were the prince of dar-kness, I would want to en-gulf the whole world in dar-kness.

I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — thee.

So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States.

I’d subvert the churches first, and I would begin with a campaign of whispers.

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.”

To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince the chil-dren that man created God instead of the other way around. I’d confide that what’s bad is good and what’s good is square.

And the old, I would teach to pray after me, “Our Father, which are in Washington …”

Then, I’d get organized, I’d educate authors in how to make lur-id literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting.

I’d peddle nar-cotics to whom I could. I’d sell alc-oh-ol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with p-ills.

If I were the de-vil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at w-ar with themselves and nations at w-ar with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed.

And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flam-es.

If I were the de-vil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellect but neglect to discipline emotions. I’d tell teachers to let those students run wild. And before you knew it, you’d have dr-ug-sni-ffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

With a decade, I’d have pris-ons overflowing and judges promoting por-n*graphy. Soon, I would evict God from the courthouse and the schoolhouse and them from the houses of Congress.

In his own churches, I would substitute psychology for relig-ion and deify science. I’d lure priests and pastors into misu-sing boys and girls and church money.

If I were the de-vil, I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

What’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gam-bling as the way to get rich?

I’d convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun and that what you see on television is the way to be.

And thus, I could u-ndress you in public and lure you into bed with dise-ases for which there are no cu-res.

In other words, if I were the de-vil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.

[Source: Harvey, Paul. “If I Were the De-vil.” Reading Eagle. July 1, 1996.]

Whether it’s the 1965, 1996, or even another adaptation, the bottom line is that Paul Harvey’s words have never been truer. He was an incredible man with even more incredible insight. But, perhaps it’s another Harvey quote that best explains how he could seemingly so easily predict decades ago what America would look like today.

“In times like these, it’s helpful to remember that there have always been times like these,” Paul Harvey said. Regardless of whether you find his words to be actually prophetic, they are undeniably powerful, and it is a warn-ing to our nation that we should finally begin to heed. Rather than accepting we will always have “times like these,” maybe it’s time to right our ship and throw the De-vil overboard for good