Deuteronomy 20:18-20

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

¹⁸ Lest they teach you to do all the abominations which they have done to their gods: and you should sin against the Lord your God.

¹⁹ When thou hast besieged a city a long time, and hath compassed it with bulwarks to take it, thou shalt not cut down the trees that may be eaten of, neither shalt thou spoil the country round about with axes: for it is a tree, and not a man, neither can it increase the number of them that fight against thee.

²⁰ But if there be any trees that are not fruitful, but wild, and fit for other uses, cut them down, and make engines, until thou take the city, which fighteth against thee.