ד' מלך תגל הארץ – Hashem malach tageil ha’aretz. When Hashem will reign, the world will rejoice.
ד' מלך ירגזו עמים – Hashem malach yirgezu amim. When Hashem will reign, nations will tremble.
In the Kabbolas Shabbos service, two mizmorim, Psalms (97,99), both begin, “Hashem malach,” but end contrasting one another. When Hashem will reign, either: “the world will rejoice;” or “the nations will tremble.” If they are trembling, they cannot be very happy. Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, explains that, in the End of Days, the gentile nations will be judged on two counts: their belief in Hashem; and their personal and collective probity/uprightness. Concerning their deficient belief in Hashem, they have the excuse that it had been hampered as the result of two questions, such as: Why do the righteous suffer, and the wicked prosper? Thus, they remain hopeful of circumventing punishment. This hope generates the happiness they experience. When they are questioned concerning their interpersonal relationships, however, stealing from one another, etc. they will have nothing to excuse their miscreant behavior. Perek 97, which concludes with Hashem addressing the nation’s emunah issues, allows for them to be hopeful for a positive verdict. Perek 99 deals with Hashem judging the nations for their adherence to justice and the welfare of one another which gives them very little to smile about.
