Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem

When they entered58 Bethlehem,59 the whole village was excited about their arrival.60 The women of the village said,61 “Can this be Naomi?”62 1:20 But she replied63 to them,64 “Don’t call me ‘Naomi’!65 Call me ‘Mara’66 because the Sovereign One67 has treated me very harshly.68 1:21 I left here full,69 but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed.70 Why do you call me ‘Naomi,’ seeing that71 the Lord has opposed me,72 and the Sovereign One73 has caused me to suffer?”74 1:22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab.75 (Now they76 arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.)77