Sirach 16:3-5

Good News Translation

³ Don't put much hope in their future or expect them to live a long time. One child who does the Lord's will is better than a thousand who do not.^[a] It is better to go to your grave with no children at all than to have children who are godless.

⁴ A city's population may grow because of the wisdom of one person, while a whole tribe of lawless people disappears. ⁵ I have seen such things many times and have heard of even more striking examples.