separate the sheep from the goats

Etymology
From the New Testament discourse of, particularly Matthew 25:32–33: “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Verb

 * 1) To divide the members of a group into those that are superior and those that are inferior.

Translations

 * Russian: отделить зёрна от плевел,, отделить овец от козлищ