And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
We have sinned against thee. The first step of repentance is confession of sin; and the best proof of its sincerity is given by the transgressor when he mourns not only over the painful consequences which have resulted from his offences to himself, but over the heinous evil committed against God.