9:31a

We know that: This phrase here introduces a well-known truth. Everybody among the Jews accepted that God did not listen to sinners. The pronoun We can therefore be considered inclusive of the leaders and the blind man. For example:

We all know (New Century Version)

God does not listen to sinners: This clause means that God does not answer the prayers of sinful people, people who do not obey him. He hears them, but he does not accept them or give them what they request. The man implied that if Jesus was a sinner, God would not have answered his request to heal the man. However, because Jesus was not a sinner, God answered his request.

9:31b

but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will: This clause states that God does listen to a godly man. This means that he answers his prayers. It also implies that Jesus was a godly man, because God answered his prayer to heal the blind man. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he listens to the godly man who does his will (New International Version)
-or-
but rather he does listen to people who honor him and who do what he wants them to do

General Comment on 9:31a–b

In some languages it may be natural to translate the positive statement first. For example:

31b We know that God listens only to people who love and obey him. 31a God doesn’t listen to sinners. (Contemporary English Version)

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