The River from the Temple

The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple,

and I saw water 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.

He then brought me out through the north gate

and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east,

and the water was flowing from the south side.

Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

When I arrived there,

I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.

He said to me,

"This water flows toward the eastern region

and goes down from into the desert,

where it enters the Sea.

When it empties into the Sea,

the water there becomes fresh.

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.

Fishermen will stand along the shore;

from En Gedi to En Eglaim

there will be places for spreading nets.

The fish will be of many kinds -

like the fish of the Great Sea.

But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh;

they will be left for salt.

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.

Their leaves will not wither,

nor will their fruit fail.

Every month they will bear,

because the water from the sanctuary flows to them.

Their fruit will serve for food

and their leaves for healing.

(Ezekiel 47:1-2,6-12)