DEUT563 (Continued from [[EXOD993]] Exodus 32:25 exposed GATES 7-9). Secondly, [I.e. another reason why his latter sin is even more severe, besides for the above stated explanation] one who repeats his sin has difficulty repenting, since he perceives his sin as permissible. In this manner, his sin weighs very heavily upon him, as the pasuk says (Yirmeyahu 3:5), "Behold, you spoke and you performed evil, and you were able." The meaning of "and you were able" is that you see the evil as permissible, as something that is within your capacity and within your domain, the same language as [this verse], "You are not able to eat in your towns," which Targum translate as, "You are not permitted." Our Sages, z"l, have stated (Kidushin 40a), "Once one commit a transgression and repeats it, he perceives it as permissible." Our Sages, z"l, have also said (ibid.), about one who commit a sin and repeats it, from that point onwards, when he intends to commit that sin and involuntarily is prevented from doing so, its evil intent is taken into consideration as if he actually performed the sin. Concerning such a person the pasuk says (Yirmeyahu 6:19), "Behold I am bringing evil upon this nation, the fruit of their thoughts." [I.e., The evil that is brought upon them evolves from their intention to sin, even if they have not implemented their wishes.]