3 The man walked east, then took out his measuring stick and measured five hundred metres downstream. He told me to wade through the stream there, and the water came up to my ankles.
4 Then he measured another five hundred metres downstream, and told me to wade through it there. The water came up to my knees. Another five hundred metres downstream the water came up to my waist.
5 Another five hundred metres downstream, the stream had become a river that could be crossed only by swimming.
6 The man said, “Ezekiel, son of man, pay attention to what you've seen.”We walked to the river bank,
7 where I saw dozens of trees on each side.
8 The man said:This water flows eastwards to the valley of the River Jordan and empties into the Dead Sea, where it turns the salt water into fresh water.
9 Wherever this water flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish, because it will bring life and fresh water to the Dead Sea.