Why would someone who knows the truth lie and proclaim the wicked to be righteous? In the previous verse, Solomon explains the motive behind such an act – the respect of persons. The desire to gain favor, to remain popular and accepted by those who “matter” is a powerful, yet ungodly desire. Solomon is not discussing an unrealistic hypothetical. We are faced with this temptation every day as we live and interact with a wicked world. It is sometimes amusing to track the position of politicians across many years. A strong statement on a particular issue is followed by an equally strong statement from the opposite point of view by the same person. Often, the only differences are a couple of years and the shift of popular opinion. Instead of a source of embarrassment, we have come to expect such antics and even defend them as a sign of increased enlightenment. But this is not just a problem for politicians. It is a problem for everyone ruled by the desire to promote and protect self. The only antidote is a heart ruled by the desire to promote the glory of God and to leave the protection of self in the hands of God. What desire rules your heart?