Sirach 27:5-7

Common English Bible

⁵ A kiln tests a potter’s jars,
    and decision making tests a person.
⁶ A tree’s fruit reveals
how well it has been cultivated.
    In the same way, reasoning makes plain
    a person’s thoughts.
⁷ Don’t praise people
until after they present an argument,
    for this is how people are tested.