When you shall tzawar (besiege) a iyar (city) a rab (long) yawam (day), in making lacham (war) against it to thapash (take) it, you shall not shachath (destroy) its itz (trees) by wielding an axe against them; for you may akal (eat) of them, and you shall not karath (cut) them down; for is the itz (tree) of the shadah (field) adam (man), that it should be besieged of you?