لَنِعمَ الحَيُّ حَيُّ بَني كُلَيبٍ

لَنِعمَ الحَيُّ حَيُّ بَني كُلَيبٍ

إِذا ما أَوقَدوا فَوقَ اليَفاعِ

إِذا ما أَوقَدوا فَوقَ اليَفاعِ

Truly, a fine clan is the clan of Banu Kulayb,

How excellent is the tribe of Kulayb

when they kindle fires upon the high ground.

When they light fires on high ground!

وَنِعمَ الحَيُّ حَيُّ بَني كُلَيبٍ

وَنِعمَ الحَيُّ حَيُّ بَني كُلَيبٍ

إِذا اِختَلَطَ الدَواعي بِالدَواعي

إِذا اِختَلَطَ الدَواعي بِالدَواعي

And a fine clan is the clan of Banu Kulayb,

How excellent is the tribe of Kulayb

when rallying cries mingle with rallying cries.

When motives mingle with motives!

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ جارَ بَني زُهَيرٍ

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ جارَ بَني زُهَيرٍ

قَصيرُ الباعِ لَيسَ بِذي اِمتِناعِ

قَصيرُ الباعِ لَيسَ بِذي اِمتِناعِ

Have you not seen that the neighbor of Banu Zuhayr

Have you not seen that the neighbor of the tribe of Zuheir,

has little reach and no power to defend himself?

With short supply, is no match for them?

وَلَيسَ الجارُ جارُ بَني كُلَيبٍ

وَلَيسَ الجارُ جارُ بَني كُلَيبٍ

بِمُقصىً في المَحَلِّ وَلا مُضاعِ

بِمُقصىً في المَحَلِّ وَلا مُضاعِ

And the neighbor—the neighbor of Banu Kulayb—is not

And the neighbor is not a neighbor of the tribe of Kulayb,

cast aside in the encampment, nor abandoned.

With no refuge or support.

هُمُ صَنَعوا لِجارِهِمُ وَلَيسَت

هُمُ صَنَعوا لِجارِهِمُ وَلَيسَت

يَدُ الخَرقاءِ مِثلَ يَدِ الصَناعِ

يَدُ الخَرقاءِ مِثلَ يَدِ الصَناعِ

They have done well by their neighbor; nor is

They made things for their neighbor while the hands

the clumsy woman's hand like the skilled woman's hand.

Of the patch-clothed are not like the hands of makers,

وَيَحرُمُ سِرُّ جارَتِهِم عَلَيهِم

وَيَحرُمُ سِرُّ جارَتِهِم عَلَيهِم

وَيَأكُلُ جارُهُم أُنُفَ القِصاعِ

وَيَأكُلُ جارُهُم أُنُفَ القِصاعِ

And intimacy with their female neighbor is forbidden to them,

And their neighbor's secrets are sacred to them

and their neighbor eats the first, untouched servings from the bowls.

While their neighbor eats the choicest portions openly.

وَجارُهُمُ إِذا ما حَلَّ فيهِم

وَجارُهُمُ إِذا ما حَلَّ فيهِم

عَلى أَكنافِ رابِيَةٍ يَفاعِ

عَلى أَكنافِ رابِيَةٍ يَفاعِ

And their neighbor, whenever he settles among them,

And when war comes upon them,

is upon the flanks of a lofty hill.

On the shoulders of a lofty she-camel,

لَعَمرُكَ ما قُرادُ بَني رِياحٍ

لَعَمرُكَ ما قُرادُ بَني رِياحٍ

إِذا نُزِعَ القُرادُ بِمُستَطاعِ

إِذا نُزِعَ القُرادُ بِمُستَطاعِ

By your life, no tick of Banu Riyah

By your life! The fleas of the tribe of Ri'ah,

can be plucked off when ticks are being removed.

When fleas are picked off, are no match for them!