Ezekiel

Contains visions and prophecies of judgment and restoration for Israel and the nations.

Chapter 47

1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

*Then he led me back to the house entrance. I saw water flowing out from beneath the door, coming from the east side because the front of the house faced east. The water flowed down from the right side of the house near the southern part of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

*Then he guided me away from the north gate's path, taking me around to the outer edge toward the east-facing gate. As I looked, water flowed out on my right side.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

*When the man with the rope went east, he measured 1000 steps and led me through shallow water, just reaching our ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

*He measured a distance of one thousand and guided me through water that reached up to our knees. Then he measured another thousand and led me through more water, this time reaching up to our groins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

*Afterward, he measured a 1,000 (units), creating a river too wide to cross. The water had risen, making it perfect for swimming. This river was too deep and wide to walk through.

6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

*He asked me, "Did you see this?" Then he took me and returned me to the edge of the river.

7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

*When I came back, I saw that there were lots of trees along the river on both sides.

8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

*Then he told me, "These waters flow towards the land of the east, go through the desert, and enter the sea. When they come into the sea, the water will be made clean."

9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

*And it will happen that everything that moves, wherever the rivers flow, will live. There will be many fish in the water because the waters will heal. All living things will thrive where the river goes.

10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

*Then, there will be a time when fishermen stand along this area from Engedi to Eneglaim. It will be a good spot for setting up nets. They'll have different types of fish, just like the fish in the big sea, but there will be lots more of them.

11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

*But the muddy areas and swamps won't get better; they will be turned into salt.

12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

*By the river on its side, many food-giving trees grow. Their leaves won't fade, and their fruit won't run out. They'll produce new fruit every month from the sanctuary's waters. The fruit is for eating, and the leaves are for healing medicine.

13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

*Thus says God: This is the boundary for inheriting the land based on the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph will have two parts.

14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.

*You will inherit this land, everyone equally: I raised my hand to promise it to your ancestors. This land will be given to you as an inheritance.

15 And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;

*This verse says that the northern border of the land goes from the big sea, following the path from Hethlon to Zedad.

16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.

*Hamath, Berothah, and Sibraim are places between Damascus's border and Hamath's border. Hazarhatticon is another place near Hauran's coast.

17 And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.

*The border from the sea will be Hazarenan, which is near Damascus. Then it goes north until it reaches the border of Hamath. This is the northern border.

18 And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side.

*Measure the eastern area starting from Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel near the Jordan River, from the border to the East Sea. This is the eastern boundary.

19 And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.

*On the southern side, from a place called Tamar to the river of conflict in Kadesh, all the way to the big sea. This describes the southern border.

20 The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.

*On the west side, from the border to where someone crosses over against Hamath, it is considered the great sea area.

21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.

*So, you will split this land among you based on the Israeli tribes.

22 And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

*Then, you will divide this land into portions for you and others living with you who have children together. They will be treated like native-born Israelis and share the inheritance with you among the Israeli tribes.

23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.

*Then, in the tribe where the outsider lives, you must give him an inheritance, says the Lord God.

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