Lamentations 4:1
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
American King James Version (AKJV)
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
American Standard Version (ASV)
How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
How dark has the gold become! how changed the best gold! the stones of the holy place are dropping out at the top of every street.
Webster's Revision
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
World English Bible
How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
English Revised Version (ERV)
How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the top of every street.
Clarke's Lamentations 4:1 Bible Commentary
How is the gold become dim - The prophet contrasts, in various affecting instances, the wretched circumstances of the Jewish nation, with the flourishing state of their affairs in former times. Here they are compared to gold, זהב zahab, native gold from the mine, which, contrary to its nature, is become dim, is tarnished; and even the fine, the sterling gold, כתם kethem, that which was stamped to make it current, is changed or adulterated, so as to be no longer passable. This might be applied to the temple, but particularly to the fallen priests and apostate prophets.
The stones of the sanctuary - אבני קדש abney kodesh, the holy stones; the Jewish godly men, who were even then the living stones of which God built his Church.
Barnes's Lamentations 4:1 Bible Commentary
The stones of the sanctuary - Or, the hallowed stones, literally stones of holiness, a metaphor for the people themselves. The actual stones of the temple would not be thus widely thrown about as to be seen everywhere, but the prophet has already affirmed this of the young children dying of hunger (compare Lamentations 2:19).
Wesley's Lamentations 4:1 Bible Commentary
4:1 The top - Are scattered in the head of every street.