Wisdom of Ben Sira 16:2-4

New Catholic Bible

² No matter how many your children, do not rejoice in them
    unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
³ Do not count on their growing old
    or rely on their numbers.
[For you will grieve in untimely mourning
    and know of their unexpected end.]^[a]
For one can be better than a thousand,
    and to die childless is better than to have godless children.
⁴ Through one wise man an entire city can be populated,
    but a tribe of lawless people can bring about its destruction.