DEUT128 It is part of Hashem's kindness to His creatures that He prepared for them the way [already from Adam HaRishon, the path towards repentance was a universal one given to the whole of mankind (See Bereishis Rabbah 22:28); in fact, it preceded the creation of the world (Pesachim 54a)] to rise above the lowliness of their deeds and flee the ensnarement of their sins ["One sin leads to another sin" (Avos 4:2)] -- to save their souls from perdition [I.e., in the World to Come (Zeh Hasha'ar)] and turn His anger away from them [I.e., in this world (ibid)]. Out of His great goodness [from the perspective of pure justice, there is no place for repentance. See Yerushalmi Makos 2:6; Mesillas Yesharim, chapter 4.] and uprightness Hashem taught His creatures and admonished them to return to Him when they sin [The Hebrew word teshuvah (repentance) comes from the root shuv (return)] -- for He knows their inclination [to go astray]--as the pasuk says (Tehillim 25:8), "Good and upright is Hashem; therefore He shows sinners the way." Even if they have greatly sinned rebelled, and acted unfaithfully, Hashem does not close the doors of repentance before them, as the pesukim say (Yeshayahu 31:6), "Return to the One from Whom you have profoundly turned away," and (Yirmeyahu 3;22), "Return, rebellious sons, and I will heal your rebelliousness." We have been admonished regarding repentance in various places in the Torah. It is clear that teshuvah that is acceptable even if the sinner repents under great distress, and surely if he repents through his fear of Hashem and his love for Him, as the pasuk says [this verse]. The Torah informs us that Hashem helps those who repent, [even] when their natural tendencies do not permit its attainment; He renews within them a spirit of purity, that they may attain the lofty level of love for Him, as the pasuk (ibid., 30:2), "You will return to Hashem, your God, with your whole heart and your entire being, and heed His voice according to everything that I command you and your children today." [See Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Teshuvah 7:6]. In the same context, the pasuk then says (ibid., 6), "Hashem, your God will remove [the layer over] your heart and the hearts of your descendants," [See Ramban, ad loc: "This is as Chazal [an acronym for Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv'rakhah, "Our Sages, may their memory be blessed" -- AJL] said: 'One who desires to purify himself will be assisted' (Shabbos 104a). This pasuk assures that you will repent with your whole heart and Hashem will assist you."] In order to attain a love for Him. [Similarly,] the Nevi'im and Kesuvim speak constantly of teshuvah, so that all the principles of repentance are elucidated in their words, as will be explained.