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"May one be pardoned and retain th' offense?"
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Act 3,
Scene 3
Lines 53-64

A discussion of Claudius's inability to achieve absolution in Act 3, Scene 3 in myShakespeare's Hamlet. 

myShakespeare | Hamlet 3.3 “May one be pardoned and retain th’offense?”

Claudius

That cannot be, since I am still possessed 
Of those effects for which I did the murder:
My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.
May one be pardoned and retain th' offense?
In the corrupted currents of this world, 
Offense's gilded hand may shove by justice,    
And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself
Buys out the law. But 'tis not so above.     
There is no shuffling, there the action lies
In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled,
Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults,
To give in evidence. What then, what rests?     
Video Transcript: 

RALPH: Almost immediately after his initial optimism, Claudius becomes doubtful that prayer can really help him. He realizes that he can't be forgiven for his crime, if he's still happily enjoying the results of that crime. He killed old King Hamlet to become king himself, and to take Gertrude as his wife. And he's apparently not about to give up these things in order to be forgiven.

SARAH: Claudius then begins a comparison between earthly justice — how things happen in our world — and how they must occur in heaven.

RALPH: He remarks that, in our everyday life, crimes aren't always punished — in fact, it's often the case that criminals are able to use the profits that they get from their crime — money, or power — to buy off the legal system, to make sure they aren't punished — they use a "gilded hand," as Claudius says, to shove justice aside.