Compare this verse with Dan 9.12, which is similar.

So: Translators will help their readers by tying in this verse with the final verse of the previous chapter; for example, “Because we did evil, the Lord….”

The Lord confirmed his word, which he spoke against us: The meaning of confirmed his word is that God put his threat into effect. Good News Translation has “carried out the threat,” Contemporary English Version “did everything he threatened,” and New English Bible “made good the warning” (see the comments on Bar 1.20). The same expression is also used at verse 24.

Against our judges … kings … princes … the men of Israel and Judah: The list of officials here can be compared with the list at Bar 1.16. Judges has been added here, amplified by calling them our judges who judged Israel. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit the qualifying clause who judged Israel, probably considering it unnecessary. But it should be kept since it may be calling attention to a united Israel as opposed to the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The reference may be to ancient times when judges like Gideon and Sampson ruled in Israel, so a possible rendering is “our judges, who ruled in Israel long ago.” The men of Israel and Judah is better rendered “the other people of Israel and Judah.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.