12. 天欲祸人必先以微福骄之
12. Before making one suffer, Heaven would always bestow some scanty favors on him to provoke his conceit.

天欲祸人，必先以微福骄 ^① 之，要看他会受 ^② 。天欲福人，必先以微祸儆 ^③ 之，要看他会救 ^④ 。

① 骄：骄纵；纵容。

② 受：承受；经受。

③ 儆：警示；警告。同“警”。

④ 救：救赎。此处指自我救赎。

上天要降祸于一个人，一定会先给他点薄福以骄纵他，看他是否能把持自己。

上天要降福于一个人，一定会先让他吃点苦以示儆诫，看他是否能自我救赎。

Before making someone suffer, Heaven would habitually bestow some scanty favors on him to provoke his conceit, so as to see if he can handle or not.

Before granting favors to someone, Heaven would habitually let him suffer a little to give warning, so as to see if he can rescue himself or not.

12. 天欲祸人 必先以微福骄之 12. Before making one suffer, Heaven would always bestow some scanty favors on him to provoke his conceit.