If it is well told and to the point, that is what I myself desired: Good News Bible renders this sentence well. Other possible models are “I have tried to tell the story well and clearly” and “I have tried to write a brief, but interesting book” (Contemporary English Version).

If it is poorly done and mediocre, that was the best I could do: Good News Bible provides a fine model here.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.