The words `` under God '' , for example , are missing in this copy from the phrase `` that this nation ( under God ) shall have a new birth of freedom ... '' If the Nicolay draft was the copy Lincoln read from , either the modern transcriptions are not correct , or Lincoln spoke differently from his written text several times . The words `` under God '' , for example , are missing in this copy from the phrase `` that this nation ( under God ) shall have a new birth of freedom ... '' In order for the Nicolay draft to have been the reading copy , either the contemporary transcriptions were inaccurate , or Lincoln would have had to depart from his written text in several instances .