From the next verse it is clear that this verse uses figurative speech. It compares the people of Jerusalem (“sons of Zion,” verse 2) with gold and stones. After all, the Lord had chosen them to be his own, precious people (Deuteronomy 7:6; Psalm 147:19–20; Amos 3:2). They were “sacred”—devoted to the Lord.
But now the “gold” and “holy stones” have become dull and worthless. They have been scattered around. This is the theme of Lamentations 4:1–22: the terrible end of the people of Jerusalem. How the gold has lost its shine!
1 How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street.