¹⁹ So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.^(A) When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred^(B) because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

²⁰ “Don’t call me Naomi,^[a]” she told them. “Call me Mara,^[b] because the Almighty^[c](C) has made my life very bitter.^{(D) 21} I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.^(E) Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted^[d] me;^(F) the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

¹⁴ The women^(A) said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord,^(B) who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer.^(C) May he become famous throughout Israel! ¹⁵ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law,^(D) who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons,^(E) has given him birth.”

¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.