Other translations
New Catholic Bible
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.] For one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have godless children.
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Do not trust in their survival, or rely on their numbers; for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
Good News Translation®
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. It is better to go to your grave with no children at all than to have children who are godless.
Wycliffe Bible
Believe thou not to the life of them, and behold thou not into the travails of them. For why better is one dreading God, than a thousand wicked sons. And it is more profitable to die without sons, than to leave wicked sons. [Not give thou faith to the life of them, and not behold thou into the travails of them. Better is forsooth one dreading God, than a thousand unpious sons. And profitable it is to die without sons, than to leave unpious sons.]
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Do not trust in their survival or rely on their numbers, for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
Do not trust in their survival, or rely on their numbers; for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
Common English Bible © 2011
Don’t be confident that they will live, and don’t rely on their great number. One is better than a thousand, and it’s better to die childless than to have ungodly children.
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Do not count on long life for them, or have any hope for their future. For one can be better than a thousand; rather die childless than have impious children!
Revised Standard Version
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.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Do not trust in their survival, or rely on their numbers; for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.