Wisdom of Ben Sira 16:1-3

New Catholic Bible

¹ Do not desire a brood of unprofitable^[b] children,
    and take no joy in offspring who are godless.
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.]^[c]
For one can be better than a thousand,
    and to die childless is better than to have godless children.