OET interlinear LAM 4:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-poetry

אֵיכָה֙

how

The word How introduces an exclamation of sorrow which expresses strong feelings of shock and grief at the way the people of Zion are now treated. This is poetic language and begins the lament for the destruction of Jerusalem and its people. If there is an equivalent word or phrase in your language that you can use in your translation, you could use it here and in verse 2.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יוּעַ֣ם זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א הַ⁠כֶּ֣תֶם הַ⁠טּ֑וֹב

grown_dim gold (Some words not found in UHB: how grown_dim gold changed the,gold (the),pure scattered stones_of sacred at_[the],head_of all/each/any/every street )

Here the writer is speaking as if the people of Jerusalem were gold that has lost its luster and fine gold that has been altered. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the people have lost their value; the most honored people have changed]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֨כְנָה֙ אַבְנֵי־קֹ֔דֶשׁ

(Some words not found in UHB: how grown_dim gold changed the,gold (the),pure scattered stones_of sacred at_[the],head_of all/each/any/every street )

Here the writer is speaking as if the people of the city were The stones of holiness and liquid that has been poured out and scattered. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [The holy stones lie scattered] or [The people lie scattered]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בְּ⁠רֹ֖אשׁ כָּל־חוּצֽוֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: how grown_dim gold changed the,gold (the),pure scattered stones_of sacred at_[the],head_of all/each/any/every street )

The writer is using at the head of every street as a common expression of the culture to mean at the beginning or top of every street. If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [on every street corner] or [at the top of every street]