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God’s Punishment of Sinners

16 Do not desire a multitude of worthless[a] children,
    and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring.
If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,
    unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
Do not trust in their survival,
    or rely on their numbers;[b]
for one can be better than a thousand,
    and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.

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Footnotes

  1. Sirach 16:1 Heb: Gk unprofitable
  2. Sirach 16:3 Other ancient authorities add For you will groan in untimely mourning, and will know of their sudden end.

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