The Midrash says:
שאלו לחכמה החוטא מהו עונשו, אמרה להם וחטאים תרדף רעה (משלי יג: כא).
שאלו לנבואה החוטא מהו עונשו, אמרה להם הנפש החוטאת היא תמות (יחזקאל יח:
ד). שאלו לתורה חוטא מה עונשו, אמרה להם יביא אשם ויתכפר לו. שאלו להקב"ה
החוטא מהו עונשו, א' להם יעשה תשובה ויתכפר לו, הדא היא דכת' טוב וישר
י"י וגו' (תהלים כה: ח)
Translation (Pesikta de-Rab Kahana, trans. William G. Braude, Piska 24:7):
When Wisdom is asked, “The sinner- what is to be his punishment?” Wisdom answers: Evil which pursueth sinners. When Prophecy is asked, “The sinner- what is to be his punishment?” Prophecy replies: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. When Torah is asked, “The sinner- what is to be his punishment?” Torah replies: Let him bring a guilt offering in expiation and his sin shall be forgiven him. When the Holy One is asked, “The sinner- what is to be his punishment?” the Holy One replies: In penitence let him mend his ways, and his sin shall be forgiven him. Hence it is written, [At one and the same time] kind and strict judgement is the Lord.
This implies that teshuvah does not follow the normal dictates of chochmah, nevuah, or even Torah. Only Hakadosh Baruch Hu allows the sinner to perform teshuvah. The Maharal also explains Chazal this way.