<b>Come, let us go down there and confound their language (Gen. 11:7).</b> He confounded their speech to such a degree that no one was able to understand his companion’s speech. Originally, they had spoken to each other in Hebrew, the language with which the world was created.

The Holy One, blessed be He, said: In this world My creatures opposed Me, and therefore they were divided into seventy languages because of the evil inclination, but in the world-to-come they will all be of one accord, calling upon My name and serving Me, as it is said: <i>For then will I turn to the peoples one pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent</i> (Zeph. 3:9). And He will remove the oppression of idolatrous nations from Israel, and they shall serve Him with gladness, as it is said: <i>Serve the Lord with gladness</i> (Ps. 100:2). However, the nations of the world will serve Him, as is appropriate for them, with trepidation. For example, when a son serves his father, he does so in gladness, saying to himself: If I should commit an error in my father’s presence, he will not be angry with me, for he loves me. Hence he serves him with gladness. However, when a stranger serves a master, he does so with trepidation, saying to himself: If I should commit an error in his presence, he will become angry with me. Therefore, he serves him with trepidation.

Thus, it is written concerning the nations: <i>Why are all the nations in an uproar? And why do the people mutter in vain?</i> (Ps. 2:1). This entire psalm alludes to the nations. For at the conclusion of this psalm, it is written: <i>Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Do homage in purity,</i> etc. (ibid., vv. 11–12). David said to them: Take heed, lest you deviate from the right path, <i>and He be angry, and ye perish in the way</i> (Ps. 2:12), for He might become angry with you, even over a trivial matter. In reference to Israel, however, it is written: <i>Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with thanksgiving</i> (Ps. 100:2). This psalm was undoubtedly said with reference to Israel, for David composed it in thanksgiving, as it is written: <i>A psalm of thanksgiving</i> (ibid., v. 1).