Wert

A shield and my reliance, o God, Thou ever wert. I'll trust unto Thy guidance, o leave me not ungirt.

Why wert thou there?

1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, To A Skylark, (first two lines of ode), "Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! Bird thou never wert, ..."

If thou wert mine, I would be in heaven!

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, ...

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.