prov·i·dence /ˈprɑvədən(t)s, ˌdɛn(t)s/
 上帝,神的眷顧,深謀遠慮,天意


 Prov·i·dence n.
 1. The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation.
    Providence for war is the best prevention of it.   --Bacon.
 2. Foresight; care; especially, the foresight and care which God manifests for his creatures; hence, God himself, regarded as exercising a constant wise prescience.
 The world was all before them, where to choose
 Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.   --Milton.
 3. Theol. A manifestation of the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures; an event ordained by divine direction.
    He that hath a numerous family, and many to provide for, needs a greater providence of God.   --Jer. Taylor.
 4. Prudence in the management of one's concerns; economy; frugality.
    It is a high point of providence in a prince to cast an eye rather upon actions than persons.   --Quarles.

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 Providence
      n 1: the capital and largest city of Rhode Island; located in
           northeastern Rhode Island on Narragansett Bay; site of
           Brown University [syn: capital of Rhode Island]
      2: the guardianship and control exercised by a deity; "divine
         providence"
      3: a manifestation of God's foresightful care for His creatures
      4: the prudence and care exercised by someone in the management
         of resources [ant: improvidence]


 Providence
    literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's
    preserving and governing all things by means of second causes
    (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's
    providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7;
    Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26;
    10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov.
    21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam.
    2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to
    the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14,
    15; Prov. 16:1; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1), and things sinful (2 Sam.
    16:10; 24:1; Rom. 11:32; Acts 4:27, 28), as well as to their
    good actions (Phil. 2:13; 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10; Eph. 2:10; Gal.
    5:22-25).

      As regards sinful actions of men, they are represented as
    occurring by God's permission (Gen. 45:5; 50:20. Comp. 1 Sam.
    6:6; Ex. 7:13; 14:17; Acts 2:3; 3:18; 4:27, 28), and as
    controlled (Ps. 76:10) and overruled for good (Gen. 50:20; Acts
    3:13). God does not cause or approve of sin, but only limits,
    restrains, overrules it for good.

      The mode of God's providential government is altogether
    unexplained. We only know that it is a fact that God does govern
    all his creatures and all their actions; that this government is
    universal (Ps. 103:17-19), particular (Matt. 10:29-31),
    efficacious (Ps. 33:11; Job 23:13), embraces events apparently
    contingent (Prov. 16:9, 33; 19:21; 21:1), is consistent with his
    own perfection (2 Tim. 2:13), and to his own glory (Rom. 9:17;
    11:36).