Sirach 16:2-4

Good News Translation

² No matter how many children you have, don't look on them with pride unless they fear the Lord. 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.