The River From the Temple

47 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water^(A) coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.^{(B) 2} He then brought me out through the north gate^(C) and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.

³ As the man went eastward with a measuring line^(D) in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits^[a] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. ⁴ He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. ⁵ He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river^(E) that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.^{(F) 6} He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.^{(G) 8} He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,^[b](H) where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.^{(I) 9} Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.^{(J) 10} Fishermen^(K) will stand along the shore; from En Gedi^(L) to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.^(M) The fish will be of many kinds^(N)—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.^{(O) 11} But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.^{(P) 12} Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.^(Q) Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit^(R) fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary^(S) flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.^(T)”

⁷ “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.^(A) Then he will bring out the capstone^(B) to shouts^(C) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

⁴ On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,^(A) east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split^(B) in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. ⁵ You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake^[a](C) in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come,^(D) and all the holy ones with him.^(E)

⁶ On that day there will be neither sunlight^(F) nor cold, frosty darkness. ⁷ It will be a unique^(G) day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night.^(H) When evening comes, there will be light.^(I)

⁸ On that day living water^(J) will flow^(K) out from Jerusalem, half of it east^(L) to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.^(M)

⁹ The Lord will be king^(N) over the whole earth.^(O) On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.^(P)

¹⁰ The whole land, from Geba^(Q) to Rimmon,^(R) south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up^(S) high from the Benjamin Gate^(T) to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,^(U) and from the Tower of Hananel^(V) to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.^{(W) 11} It will be inhabited;^(X) never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.^(Y)