Albert Barnes Commentary Lamentations 4:1

"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." — Lamentations 4:1 (ASV)

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 so widely thrown about as to be seen everywhere, but the prophet has already affirmed this of the young children dying of hunger .