Albert Barnes Commentary Lamentations 2:14

"Thy prophets have seen for thee false and foolish visions; And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, But have seen for thee false oracles and causes of banishment." — Lamentations 2:14 (ASV)

Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee - The Septuagint and Vulgate give the true meaning, “stupidity” (see Jeremiah 23:13 note).

To turn away thy captivity - The right sense is, “They have not disclosed to you your sins, so that you might repent, and I might have turned away your captivity.”

Burdens - Applied contemptuously to predictions which proved “false” or “empty,” that is, failed of accomplishment. On the deduction to be drawn from this, see Jeremiah 28:9.

Causes of banishment - The result of the teaching of the false prophets would be that God would “drive out” the Jews from their land.

Some render the words “false ... banishment” by “oracles of falsehood and seduction.”