12. Before making one suffer, Heaven would always bestow some scanty favors on him to provoke his conceit.

①之，要看他會受②。天欲福人，必先以微禍儆③之，要看他會救④。

【中文注釋】

① 驕：驕縱；縱容。

② 受：承受；經受。

③ 儆：警示；警告。同“警”。

④ 救：救贖。此處指自我救贖。

【今文解譯】

上天要降禍於一個人，一定會先給他點薄福以驕縱他，看他是否能把持自己。

上天要降福於一個人，一定會先讓他吃點苦以示儆誡，看他是否能自我救贖。

【English Translation】

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.

世人破綻處 多從周旋處見