First ReadingEzekiel 47:1-9, 12
From the Book of Ezekiel
1He brought me back to the door of the temple;and behold, waters flowed out from under the threshold of the temple eastward,for the front of the temple faced toward the east.The waters came down from underneath,from the right side of the temple,on the south of the altar.2Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward,and led me around by the way outside to the outer gate,by the way of the gate that looks toward the east.Behold, waters ran out on the right side.
3When the man went out eastward with the line in his hand,he measured one thousand cubits,and he caused me to pass through the waters,waters that were to the ankles.4Again he measured one thousand,and caused me to pass through the waters,waters that were to the knees.Again he measured one thousand,and caused me to pass through watersthat were to the waist.5Afterward he measured one thousand;and it was a river that I could not pass through,for the waters had risen,waters to swim in,a river that could not be walked through.
6He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he brought meand caused me to return to the bank of the river.7Now when I had returned,behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.8Then he said to me,“These waters flow out toward the eastern regionand will go down into the Arabah.Then they will go toward the seaand flow into the sea which will be made to flow out;and the waters will be healed.9It will happen that every living creature which swarms,in every place where the rivers come, will live.Then there will be a very great multitude of fish;for these waters have come there,and the waters of the sea will be healed,and everything will live wherever the river comes. verses 10–11 are not read12By the river banks,on both sides, will grow every tree for food,whose leaf won’t wither,neither will its fruit fail.It will produce new fruit every month,because its waters issue out of the sanctuary.Its fruit will be for food, and its leaf for healing.”