Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Afterward, I was brought back to the door of the house, and behold, water flowed out from beneath the threshold toward the east. The front of the house faced east, and the water flowed down from beneath on the right side of the house at the south side of the altar.

The Lord led me outside through the north gate and guided me around to the outer east-facing gate, where I saw water flowing from the right side. As we walked eastward, he measured out 1,000 cubits with a measuring line and led me through the waters, which reached up to my ankles.

He measured another 1,000 cubits, and the waters rose to my knees. He measured again, and the waters reached my loins. After that, he measured another 1,000 cubits, and the waters became so deep that I couldn't cross over – it was like a river where one would swim.

The Lord said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me back to the riverbank, where there were trees on both sides. The water flowed eastward into the desert and reached the sea, where it would be healed.

Every living thing that moved would thrive wherever these rivers flowed, and there would be an incredibly abundant population of fish because the waters would restore them to health, making everything alive where the river came. Fishermen would stand on its banks from Engedi to Eneglaim, spreading their nets and catching fish of every kind – just as many as in the vast sea.

However, the miry places and marshes would remain unhealed, given over to salt. Along the river's banks, on both sides, trees would grow that produced fruit for food, with leaves that wouldn't wither and fruit that wouldn't be consumed; it would bear new fruit according to its months because its waters flowed from the sanctuary. The fruit would be for food, and the leaves would be used for medicine.

Thus says the Lord God: "This shall be the border by which you will inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will have two portions." You will inherit it, one as well as another, in accordance with the promise I made to your fathers, and this land shall be yours by inheritance.

The border of the land toward the north side would start from the great sea and follow the route that leads to Hethlon and Zedad. It would include Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim – situated between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath – Hazarhatticon, located by the coast of Hauran.

The border from the sea would extend to Hazarenan, which is at the border of Damascus, and it would continue northward along the border of Hamath. On the east side, you would measure from Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel by Jordan to the border of the eastern sea.

The south side would start from Tamar and follow the river to the great sea – this is the route that defines the south side. The west side would extend to the great sea from the border until one comes opposite Hamath.

You will divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel, and you will also give an inheritance to strangers who sojourn with you, their children, and their descendants, who are born in the land. You will give them an inheritance among the tribes of Israel as those born in the land.

And it shall come to pass that wherever a stranger resides, there you will give him his inheritance, says the Lord God.