Habakkuk 2:5 (GNV)

Passage

Yea, in deede the proude man is as hee that transgresseth by wine: therefore shall he not endure, because he hath enlarged his desire as the hell, and is as death, and can not be satisfied, but gathereth vnto him all nations, and heapeth vnto him all people.

Nearby Context

Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the last it shall speake, and not lie: though it tarie, waite: for it shall surely come, and shall not stay.

Habakkuk 2:4 Beholde, he that lifteth vp himselfe, his minde is not vpright in him, but the iust shall liue by his fayth,

Habakkuk 2:5 Yea, in deede the proude man is as hee that transgresseth by wine: therefore shall he not endure, because he hath enlarged his desire as the hell, and is as death, and can not be satisfied, but gathereth vnto him all nations, and heapeth vnto him all people.

Habakkuk 2:6 Shall not all these take vp a parable against him, and a tanting prouerbe against him, and say, Ho, he that increaseth that which is not his? howe long? and hee that ladeth himselfe with thicke clay?

Habakkuk 2:7 Shall they not rise vp suddenly, that shall bite thee? and awake, that shall stirre thee? and thou shalt be their praye?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "deede", "proude", "transgresseth", "wine", "therefore", "shall", "endure", and "hath". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "deede" and "proude", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Beholde he that lifteth vp himselfe his..." into verse 6's "Shall not all these take vp a...", so "deede" and "proude" belong inside that flow. In Habakkuk context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "deede" and "proude" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.