Chapter 25
Taoism — Lao-tzu and the Unnameable Way · text: Translated by James Legge (Sacred Books of the East, 1891) — Project Gutenberg eBook #216, 'The Tao Teh King' (public domain). Highlighted passages are answered beneath the text.
1There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things.
2I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great.
3Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage) king is one of them.
4Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is. ★ REFUTED
Legge's fourth paragraph of this chapter gives the chain: man takes his law from earth, earth from heaven, heaven from the Tao, and the Tao from itself. An impersonal 'itself' at the top of the universe can command no worship, hear no prayer, and make no covenant. The Bible's chain ends in a Person: the LORD, 'the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God' (1 Timothy 1:17) — self-existent like the Tao of this verse, but a living 'I AM' who speaks His law and keeps His promises.