Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?
World English Bible (WEB)
When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat of them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of you?
Strong's King James
When thou shalt besiege{H6696}{(H8799)} a city{H5892} a long{H7227} time{H3117}, in making war{H3898}{(H8736)} against it to take{H8610}{(H8800)} it, thou shalt not destroy{H7843}{(H8686)} the trees{H6086} thereof by forcing{H5080}{(H8800)} an axe{H1631} against them: for thou mayest eat{H398}{(H8799)} of them, and thou shalt not cut them down{H3772}{(H8799)}(for the tree{H6086} of the field{H7704} is man's{H120} life) to employ{H935}{(H8800)} them in the siege{H6440}{H4692}:
The F.O.G *
The F.O.G Message *
Young's Literal Translation
When thou layest siege unto a city many days, to fight against it, to capture it, thou dost not destroy its trees to force an axe against them, for of them thou dost eat, and them thou dost not cut down—for man’s is the tree of the field—to go in at thy presence in the siege.
