عَلَّمتهُ حِكَماً حتّى يوقِّرني

عَلَّمتهُ حِكَماً حتّى يوقِّرني

فَبالَغَ الوَغدُ في خَفضي وَتَحقيري

فَبالَغَ الوَغدُ في خَفضي وَتَحقيري

I taught him wise sayings so that he would honor me.

I taught him wisdom so he would respect me

So the wretch went to extremes in debasing and belittling me.

But the scoundrel went too far in belittling and scorning me

أَخطَأتُ في وَضعِها فيهِ فَوانَدَمي

أَخطَأتُ في وَضعِها فيهِ فَوانَدَمي

وَكُنتُ واضِعها في جلدِ خِنزيرِ

وَكُنتُ واضِعها في جلدِ خِنزيرِ

I erred in placing them in him—alas, how I regret it!

I erred in instilling it in him and now I regret it

And I was placing them in a pig's hide.

I should have instilled it in the hide of a pig instead