It should be noted that in this verse the man born blind picks up the phrase used by the Pharisees themselves, we know (see verse 29).

The affirmation that God does not listen to sinners means that God will not answer ordinary petitions in the prayers of sinners, not that God will not hear a prayer of repentance. Does not listen to sinners may be translated “does not respond to the petitions of sinners” or “does not give sinners what they ask for when they pray.”

People who respect him (most translations “devout”; Phillips “the man who has a proper respect for God”) translates a word that occurs only here in the New Testament, though it is from the same stem as the word translated religious in 1 Timothy 2.10. Revised Standard Version translates this word “a worshiper of God.” People respect him may often be rendered “people who worship him” or even “people who pray to him.” Such persons may be described in some languages as “those who regularly bow before him.”

What he wants them to do is a noun phrase in Greek (literally “his will.”)

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .