The Hebrew text does not have anything equivalent to This, which seems to link verse 13 back to verse 12; instead it has a prefix to sins which means “because of, on account of….” Therefore it is not clear from the Hebrew whether verse 13 is connected primarily back to verse 12 or forward to verse 14. Translators will no doubt find it necessary to make the link clear by adjusting the opening words. Some use This was or “It was” (New English Bible), or more clearly “But it happened” (Good News Translation), referring to the conquest of Jerusalem in verse 12. Others translate so that verse 13 joins to verse 14; for example, AB “On account of the sins of her prophets…” is followed by “They wandered…” in verse 14, where “they” refers back to the prophets and priests in verse 13. However, in the light of 2.14, the Handbook recommends the position followed by Good News Translation.
In 2.14 the priests were blamed for the disaster that happened to Jerusalem. Here, however, the priests are linked with the prophets in common guilt. This guilt goes beyond the mere silence of 2.14 to include “causing the death of innocent people” (Good News Translation). In many languages it will be clearer to use verbs rather than nouns in the expressions sins of her prophets and iniquities of her priests. For example, “But Jerusalem was invaded, and that was because her prophets and her priests had sinned….” For translation suggestions on prophets and priests, see 1.4 and 2.9.
Who shed in the midst of her the blood … means “who (the prophets and priests) caused people in Jerusalem to die.” The righteous refers to people who lived good lives, people who were not guilty of wrongdoing, innocent people. The final two lines of Revised Standard Version probably refer to particular acts rather than simply bringing disaster on the ordinary citizens of Jerusalem. The poet no doubt had in mind the persecution which “innocent people” (Good News Translation) could expect if they opposed the views of the priests and prophets. That this was a reasonable expectation is clear from Jeremiah 26.7, 8, 20-23. See also Hosea 6.9.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on Lamentations. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .