The Healing Waters and Trees

47 Then he brought me back to the door of the ^[a]temple; and there was ^(A)water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. ² He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces ^(B)east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

³ And when ^(C)the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. ⁴ Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. ⁵ Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. ⁶ He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

⁷ When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many ^(D)trees on one side and the other. ⁸ Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the ^[b]valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. ⁹ And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever ^[c]the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. ¹⁰ It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish ^(E)of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. ¹¹ But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. ^12 (F)Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; ^(G)their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for ^(H)medicine.”^[d]

Borders of the Land^(I)

¹³ Thus says the Lord God: “These are the ^(J)borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. ^(K)Joseph shall have two portions. ¹⁴ You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I ^(L)raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this land shall ^(M)fall to you as your inheritance.

¹⁵ “This shall be the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea, by ^(N)the road to Hethlon, as one goes to ^(O)Zedad, ^16 (P)Hamath, ^(Q)Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazar Hatticon (which is on the border of Hauran). ¹⁷ Thus the boundary shall be from the Sea to ^(R)Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus; and as for the north, northward, it is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

¹⁸ “On the east side you shall mark out the border from between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan, and along the eastern side of the sea. This is the east side.

¹⁹ “The south side, toward the ^[e]South, shall be from Tamar to ^(S)the waters of ^[f]Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea. This is the south side, toward the South.

²⁰ “The west side shall be the Great Sea, from the southern boundary until one comes to a point opposite Hamath. This is the west side.

²¹ “Thus you shall ^(T)divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. ²² It shall be that you will divide it by ^(U)lot as an inheritance for yourselves, ^(V)and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. ^(W)They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. ²³ And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord God.

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, ^(A)my son, ^(B)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must ^(C)endure^[a] hardship ^(D)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ^4 (E)No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also ^(F)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and ^[b]may the Lord ^(G)give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, ^(H)of the seed of David, ^(I)was raised from the dead ^(J)according to my gospel, ^9 (K)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, ^(L)even to the point of chains; ^(M)but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(N)I endure all things for the sake of the ^[c]elect, ^(O)that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, ^(T)charging them before the Lord not to ^[d]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ^15 (U)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and ^[e]idle babblings, for they will ^[f]increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. ^(V)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, ^(W)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(X)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(Y)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[g]Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only ^(Z)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ^[h]sanctified and useful for the Master, ^(AA)prepared for every good work. ^22 (AB)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And ^(AC)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, ^(AD)able to teach, ^(AE)patient, ^25 (AF)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(AG)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(AH)so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and ^(AI)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.