John 9:16

9:16 Then some of the Pharisees began to say, ¹  “This man is not from God, because he does not observe ²  the Sabbath.” ³  But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform ⁴  such miraculous signs?” Thus there was a division ⁵  among them.

John 9:31

9:31 We know that God doesn’t listen to ⁶  sinners, but if anyone is devout ⁷  and does his will, God ⁸  listens to ⁹  him. ¹⁰ 

[9:16]  ¹ tn As a response to the answers of the man who used to be blind, the use of the imperfect tense in the reply of the Pharisees is best translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to say” or “started saying”).

[9:16]  ² tn Grk “he does not keep.”

[9:16]  ³ sn The Jewish religious leaders considered the work involved in making the mud to be a violation of the Sabbath.

[9:16]  ⁴ tn Grk “do.”

[9:16]  ⁵ tn Or “So there was discord.”

[9:31]  ⁶ tn Grk “God does not hear.”

[9:31]  ⁷ tn Or “godly.”

[9:31]  ⁸ tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:31]  ⁹ tn Or “hears.”

[9:31]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “this one.”