17. And where you die, I will die. And there I will be buried. I ask the Lord to punish me terribly if I do not keep this promise: Only death will separate us.”
18. Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her. So Naomi stopped arguing with her.
19. Naomi and Ruth went on until they came to the town of Bethlehem. When the two women entered Bethlehem, all the people became very excited. The women of the town said, “Is this Naomi?”
20. But Naomi told the people, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because God All-Powerful has made my life very sad.
21. When I left, I had all I wanted. But now, the Lord has brought me home with nothing. So why should you call me Naomi when the Lord has spoken against me? God All-Powerful has given me much trouble.”