Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men is literally “Before speech [reason] do not praise a man, for this is the test of men.” According to verses 4-6, it is through a person’s words that we learn his character, so it follows that we should not praise anyone until we have had an opportunity to learn that person’s character by listening to his conversation.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.