Ben Sira 16:1

1 Do not desire a multitude of useless children, nor rejoice in ungodly sons.

Ben Sira 16:1 In-Context

1 Do not desire a multitude of useless children, nor rejoice in ungodly sons.

2 If they multiply , do not rejoice in them, unless the fear of the Lord is in them.

3 Do not trust in their survival, and do not rely on their multitude; for one is better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.

4 For through one man of understanding a city will be filled with people, but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate.

5 Many such things my eye has seen, and my ear has heard things more striking than these.